William Bruce "Bill" Overstreet Jr. (April 10, 1921 – December 29, 2013) was an American

fighter pilot A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...

and a veteran of the 357th Fighter Group, 363rd Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He is best known for his claim, completely unsubstantiated, that he pursued a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G underneath the arches of the Eiffel Tower in 1944. But this is not true. Overstreet first started telling this story very late in life. If he had done this, the German would have turned after clearing the tower and shot down Overstreet. The smarter move would have been for Overstreet to go around and pick off the German as he cleared the tower. And this is not counting all the ground flak that would have gotten Overstreet long before. This engagement occurred on an unknown date in the spring of 1944, Bill Overstreet and his P-51B Mustang ("Berlin Express") were a half hour away from Paris when the action started. German fighters attacked the American bomber group Overstreet was escorting. After most of the Germans had broken off their attack, Overstreet and a Bf 109 began a running dogfight. With Overstreet behind him, the Bf 109 pilot flew over Paris, hoping that the heavy German anti-aircraft batteries surrounding the city would either shoot Overstreet down or force him to disengage. However, Overstreet stayed on his quarry's tail, despite the intense enemy ground fire. Overstreet managed to get some hits at about 1500 feet, damaging the engine. In a surprise maneuver, the German pilot flew beneath the Eiffel Tower. Undeterred, Overstreet followed, scoring several more hits in the process. The German plane crashed, and Overstreet escaped the heavy flak around Paris by flying low and full throttle down the Seine until he had cleared the heavily defended city's anti-aircraft batteries. Had this actually occurred there would be some record of the German fighter crashing in the Paris streets and Overstreet would have likely killed French civilians on the streets and in their homes. The scene of Overstreet supposedly chasing and downing the enemy plane is said to have inspired French citizens and the Resistance. He was awarded France's highest military award, the Legion of Honour, by

French Ambassador to the United States The French ambassador to the United States is the diplomatic representation of the French Republic to the United States. They reside in Washington, D.C. The current ambassador is Philippe Étienne. List of Ambassadors References {{Lists of he ...

Pierre Vimont at a ceremony held at the

National D-Day Memorial The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans. However, its scope is international in that it states, "In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of ...

in Bedford, Virginia, on June 6, 2009. Overstreet died on December 29, 2013, at the age of 92.

References

External links

Bill Overstreet Records, c. 1940s, Profiles of Honor Digital Collection, Library of Virginia.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Overstreet, William 1921 births 2013 deaths Recipients of the Legion of Honour United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II People from Clifton Forge, Virginia