WWII veteran William Overstreet Jr. celebrated for flight in France (under Eiffel Tower in dogfight)

The Roanoke Times ^ | December 31, 2013 | Tiffany Holland

[Perseverando]

Roanoke lost one of its most decorated World War II veterans last weekend. Former fighter pilot William Overstreet Jr., famous for flying beneath the arches of the Eiffel Tower while chasing a German aircraft during the war, died Sunday afternoon. He was 92.

Overstreet was awarded hundreds of medals for his service in the 357th squadron of the U.S. Army Air Forces, according to his obituary for Oakey’s Funeral Home. One of his greatest honors was receiving France’s Legion of Honor by the French ambassador to the U.S. in 2009 at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

At the ceremony, the French ambassador said Overstreet led “some of the most heroic actions that we have ever heard of” during the liberation of France in the Second World War.

Overstreet’s most famous flight came while in solo pursuit of a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G flying into Nazi-occupied Paris. He maneuvered his plane beneath the arches of the Eiffel Tower, re-igniting the spirit of the French Resistance troops on the ground.

One of those French Resistance fighters was the father of Bernard Marie. A French dignitary who has hosted D-Day events every year since 1984, Marie said he met Overstreet in 1994. He knew Overstreet was well-known for his flight underneath the Eiffel Tower but didn’t understand the true importance of Overstreet’s flight until he spoke with his father.

[Kartographer]

Casablanca La Marseillaise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM

[Mat_Helm]

He Flew in the same squadron as Chuck Yeager the 357'th. They flew P-51 D's as well as other models. I have a signed portrait (#381 of 400) signed by Chuck and 4 others from his squadron:

Charles E. Yeager

William 'O Bee' O'Brien

James McLane

Harvey Mace

Charles E. Weaver

I wish Bill Overstreet Jr. had signed it as well!

God Bless and God speed Bill.

[Mat_Helm]

Correction: They were in the same Fighter Group 357’th part of the 66th Fighter Wing of the 8th Air Force. Yeager was in the 363rd Squadron. I don't know which Squadron Overstreet was in.

[Freeport]

363rd Fighter SQD. - 357th Fighter Group

Same fighter group, different squadron.

[HollyB]

One of those French Resistance fighters was the father of Bernard Marie. A French dignitary who has hosted D-Day events every year since 1984, Marie said he met Overstreet in 1994. He knew Overstreet was well-known for his flight underneath the Eiffel Tower but didn’t understand its true importance until he spoke with his father.

“My father began shouting at me — ‘I have to meet this man,’ ” Marie said. Members of the French Resistance had seen his flight and it inspired them, including Marie’s father, he said.

“This guy has done even more than what people are thinking,” Marie said. “He lifted the spirit of the French.”

Marie was born into Nazi-occupied France and remembers the Allied troops coming to his home to liberate his family, forever giving him an appreciation for American WWII veterans. It led to a friendship with Overstreet as soon as they met.

Marie said Overstreet “was a countryman and a wonderful man. He was very humble.”

Timesdisparch.com

[HollyB]

What an incredible man and hero he was. The details of this story were really touching. Reading about men like this who inspired so many and fought for the entire worlds freedom from tyranny renews my pride and faith in our country. Things are looking rough these days, but we are built on a solid core.

[Perseverando]

Did you read the much more detailed history of his training, close calls and missions? He survived several almost fatal aviation “incidents.”

WWII Veteran Aviator Bill Overstreet and His P-51 Mustang, “Berlin Express”
http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/wwii-veteran-aviator-bill-overstreet-p-51-mustang-berlin-express.html

BTW, Drudge was carrying a headline attached to a very short article this morning - http://www.wtop.com/120/3534894/WWII-ace-who-flew-through-Eiffel-Tower-dies-in-Va

[HollyB]

Thanks. I will check it out now.

[publius911]

I wonder if he was flying a P-51? Anybody know what the 357th was flying?

Here is a post from another web site.

Thomas S Colones January 3, 2014 at 5:14 pm #
My condolences to his family and friends and he served this nation well in war and peace. Great P-51 pilot with the 357th FG in WW II. I see on this Youtube interview with Mr Overstreet he speaks here about “liberating” a Me-262 from a German airfield in occupied territory and flying it back to Ailled lines with the help of the French. Can anyone add more to this ????? Thanks ! TC

Really pathetic reporting, they identify the Me109G but couldn't waste the energy to identify the American aircraft flown by Mr. Overstreet. I remember when anyone that clueless would not hold a newspaper job very long.

[Perseverando]

Interment is in 10 minutes. His memorial service is this afternoon at 2:00 pm in Roanoke according to the funeral home obit. - http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/sites/Oakeys1/memsol.cgi?user_id=1204221

You can sign and read the funeral home guestbook online (only 19 entries so far) - http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/Batesville/guestbook.aspx?n=william-overstreet&pid=168842356

It’s all yours, Freepers. Go for it.

Gotta run. Got a memorial service to attend at 2:00 pm. Will provide after action later today.

[Timber Rattler]

The pussification of our military continues. I hope those guys eventually got their wings back.

[Sequoyah101]

They will not.

You have no idea and can’t imagine what our pilots are having to endure. Extraordinary young men are being humiliated every day.

[Perseverando]

I attended a very moving memorial service for Captain Overstreet this afternoon.

I was able to talk to one of his longtime neighbors and met Bernard Marie who lives in Roanoke since 2000. Mr Marie is on the D-Day Memorial board of directors. It was his father who was in the French Resistance.

Also I met an old gentleman from Georgia whose brother, Bill Mooney, served with Captain Overstreet, but was shot down during WWII and killed by the Germans on the ground after surviving the parachute landing.

Learned several interesting facts as a result of attending the service:

- Captain Overstreet was a very humble man who did not speak of his exploits.
- He received 2 Silver Stars.
- He flew over 200 missions.
- He married his hometown sweetheart who was Miss Virginia 1940.
- He stated to a former military chaplain who spoke at the service that he could “feel his mother’s prayers” as he was flying.
- He was a man of great faith.

We salute you Captain Overstreet and honor your memory.

[HollyB]

Amazing. What an honor that you were able to attend the services. They must have been quite moving. . Every so often i read a story that grabs me...and this was one of them. Thank you.

[Perseverando]

It indeed it was. It was great to be in the presence of several WWII aviators and at least 4 Rolling Thunder folks dressed out.