[rossmum]

I always love stories like this. I got a huge book compiled from various wartime personal diaries a few years ago for either Christmas or my birthday (can't remember now), and in it was an account from a soldier inside an RAF Dakota carrying critically wounded men out from North Africa. They were attacked by an Italian fighter (though the plane held up) - when suddenly a 109 came out of nowhere and shot the Italian down! He then drew up alongside the Dakota's cockpit, gave a quick salute and a dip of the wings, and headed off for home. I'd heard of a fair few German and Allied pilots alike giving a brief escort to badly shot-up planes, but that was the first time I'd heard of them going that far to protect a wounded adversary.