SHANGRALA'S
WWII
P-51
MUSTANG
PILOT!
William Overstreet Jr., a former captain in the U.S. Air Corps, famously flew his
plane beneath the Eiffel Tower in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944, lifting the spirits
of French troops on the ground. In 2009, he was presented with France's
Legion of Honor award.
In the spring of 1944 Bill and his P-51C, the 'Berlin Express' were near Paris
when the scene that is immortalized in the artwork above by Len Krenzler of Action
Art took place. Bill had followed this Bf109 from the bombers he was escorting
when most of the German fighters left. The two planes had been in a running
dogfight. The German pilot flew over Paris hoping that the heavy German
anti-aircraft artillery would solve his problem and eliminate Overstreet
and the 'Berlin Express', though Bill managed to get some hits in at about
1500 feet. The German's engine was hit, and Bill stayed on his tail braving
the intense enemy flak. His desperation undoubtedly growing, the German pilot
aimed his plane at the Eiffel Tower and in a surprising maneuver, flew beneath
it. Undeterred, Bill followed right behind him, scoring several more hits in
the process. The German plane crashed and Bill escaped the heavy flak around
Paris by flying low and full throttle over the river until he had cleared the
cities heavy anti-aircraft batteries.
For his valiant service, the French ambassador to the United States presented
Overstreet with France's Legion of Honor at the National D-Day Memorial in
Bedford, Virginia in 2009.
Before the ceremony, Overstreet had previously said that, if he lived long enough
to receive the Legion of Honor, he would be accepting it in memory of his fallen
brothers. In particular, he wanted to pay tribute to a friend, Eddy Simpson,
who died fighting the Nazis on the ground so his comrades, including Overstreet,
could escape.
He was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia in 1921 and after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted
in the Air Corps as a fighter pilot. By February 1942, he was a private and sent
to California for flight training; here, his instructors prepared him for the
unexpected mid-flight by cutting the engine as he landed.
Overstreet credited this extreme training method with preparing him for the
unexpected in war, War birds News reported.
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Overstreet is pictured by his P-51 'Berlin Express', the plane he flew beneath the Eiffel Tower
Overstreet is pictured in 1943 with his cherished 1938 Buick in California,
where he trained.
During training in 1943, he suffered a near-death crash when his plane,
a Bell P-39 Airacobra, began spinning as he practiced maneuvers, and he
was unable to control it. He eventually forced his way out through the
doors and found himself standing amid the wreckage.
When he flew in World War II, he suffered another freak accident. His
oxygen line cut out as he flew 25,000 feet over France. He passed out
but snapped awake and controlled the plane and dodged trees in front
of him to figure out where he was and land safely. Newspapers at the
time reported that he could not remember a whole 90 minutes of the flight.
When Overstreet flew beneath the Eiffel Tower, the brave American
continued to fire at the German plane forcing it to crash and allowing
Overstreet to be able to escape the city.
This astounding show of skill and bravery lifted the spirits of the French.
French dignitary, Bernard Marie, told the Roanoke Times that he only fully
understood the importance of Overstreet's feat when he spoke with his father
about it. 'My father began shouting out me - "I have to meet this man!",'
Marie said. 'This guy has done even more than what people are thinking. He
lifted the spirit of the French.'
After flying further missions, including a top secret escort mission, his tour
of duty ended in October 1944 and he returned to the U.S.
Bill Overstreet is pictured above at an event, War birds Over the Beach, in 2013.
After finishing his service, he returned to the U.S. and became an accountant
- but he continued to attend veterans events.
He went on to teach at a gunnery school in Pinellas, Florida and when he was
released from active duty, he remained on the Reserves. He went on to work as
General Manager of Charleston Aviation in West Virginia before moving to Roanoke
in 1950, where he worked as an accountant until he was 65.
He passed away in Virginia at age 92. Before his death, he also worked with
numerous charities and veterans groups, appearing at air shows and gatherings
with fellow veterans. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nita.
Anne Mason Keller, Overstreet's niece, said of her uncle: 'He was a fighter,
he was always a perfect gentleman. He was concise, focused with a delightful
sense of humor and a twinkle in his eyes.
'He was always humble. Whenever the press interviewed him, he said, "I didn't
do anything, we were a team".'
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PLEASE SEND THIS ON TO EVERYONE
IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK, THANK GOD
FOR HIM AND ALL WHO FOUGHT
VALIANTLY FOR OUR FREEDOM!
MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL!
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