William Overstreet Jr., a World War II fighter pilot who in 1944 famously flew his P-51C Mustang through the arches of the Eiffel Tower while in pursuit of a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G aircraft, died at a hospital in Roanoke, Va., on Dec. 29, reported the local paper 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 figured I’d try to get around and he’d have time to get away. He was wrong,” Overstreet once said in an interview. “I was right behind him, right under the Eiffel Tower with him. And when he pulled up, I did get him. But that’s a huge space. That’s not close at all. It’s plenty of room to go under the Eiffel Tower, but it makes a good story.”
His manoeuvre re-ignited 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.
“My father began shouting out 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.
“He was a countryman and a wonderful man,” Marie said. “He was very humble. In a way he was almost embarrassed” of the attention his awards brought him.
After shyly accepting the Legion of Honor at the age of 88, Overstreet said, “If I said, ‘Thank you,’ it wouldn’t be enough,” but then added, “What more than ‘thank you’ do you need?”
Overstreet is pictured by his P-51 ‘Berlin Express’, the plane he flew beneath the Eiffel Tower
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.
According to his obituary, Overstreet returned from war and married Nita Brackens of Covington, who preceded him in death. He worked as an accountant until retiring when he was 65 years old and then worked with numerous charities and veterans groups. Marie said even in his latest years of life, Overstreet still kept his wits and attitude. One night, when Overstreet was about 90 years old, Marie asked if he could give Overstreet a ride home. Overstreet, he said, looked back at him insulted and asked, “Did you forget what I am able to do?”
Source: The Roanaoke Times
Please don’t demean a great person like this by stating that he had “hundreds of medals”.
Typical BS from someone who probably never served in the armed forces.
Get ALL of your facts straight before you write stories like this or you’ll make people doubt the rest of the story or not even bother to read past your piece of gross hyperbole.
Tony,
Yes “hundreds of medals”is indeed sloppy,but you may have noticed that this post is a reprint of a story first published in a local newspaper in the hero’s neighbourhood….
I am the oldest blood-related niece of Captain Bill Overstreet, WWII Ace, whose P51 Mustang was The Berlin Express. In my Uncle Bill’s own words, he “received hundreds of medals.” He gave them to me. I have photographed them. He dictated the actual events around each medal. They are now on display literally across America in museums from Iowa, California and Virginia and throughout our great country. Uncle Bill received the French Legion of Honor from the nation of France, as well as numerous U.S. medals including at least 2 Silver Stars, and medals from Russia, Yugoslavia, Belgium, and many other countries. England awarded him medals. For more than 60 years, all my life, I listened literally at his feet, smelling the magical aroma of his hand-mixed pipe tobacco, as he humbly recalled the heroic adventures he led during WWII in the cockpit of Southern Belle, The Berlin Express, and in his words, “so many more of the WWII air birds.” I held his medals in my hands. I counted them. They numbered well more than 200. When patriots who knew Bill and saw this amazing collection state that he had been awarded “hundreds of medals”, they are directly quoting Captain Bill. Many of these marvelous patriots, with faith and courage, far exceeded normal human expectations. Never doubt that the claims from their heroism, albeit by today’s ambiance of selfishness and skepticism, are, however, true. They selflessly fought that we might be free, and it would do us well to continue their battles to reclaim America’s freedom within our own nation. Anne Mason Taylor Keller, published author
O ok i got it
I have held every one of Bill’s medals in my hands. I photographed every one of them in his presence. And, yes, I worked within the military for a decade. Amazing, humble heros do indeed inspire and achieve more than you may recognize, but Bill’s facts are indeed true. You can count on the truth he received literally hundreds of medals. At his death, he also owned more than 512 pipes. He also left more than $2 million to The Salvation Army of Roanoke, Virginia as his thanks for how the Salvation Army helped him and his buddies during WWII. Anne Mason Taylor Keller, Roanoke, Virginia
I DID serve the military; I am his niece, first-named in Bill’s Will, held more than 300 medals in my hands and with Bill’s permission, photographed every one of them. You need to believe in the courage, devotion and positive victories of people and stop attacking truth when you don’t know the facts. Chuck Yeager stole Bill Overstreet’s war experiences, claimed them as his own, published his book and unethically made millions off the movie, “The Right Stuff” that actually was of “Captain Bill”. But Yeager had never had much, and Bill was a humble gentleman and didn’t confront Chuck about it. Yeager also chased and bedded every married woman he could screw. That’s why Yeager and his wife, Glenis, had such problems. Yeager was a hot shot, but not honorable or principled. Still isn’t. But we hope he is doing well. In the Overstreet family, we forgive and respect all people. But Yeager has some real personal integrity issues to work on before he goes to Heaven. Hope he makes it. Bill already has.
The Overstreet Spirit will live again!
The Overstreet Spirit always lives. Cant be broke by anyone. Had never heard of this til a member of the Overstreet family had it posted up yesterday on our website. Very interesting…and very courageous. Very proud to know that the Overstreets and this man served his country proudly and with honor. Now the first comment I saw made me a bit upset and not sure how to take it. Are they saying he didn’t had that .any medals and didnt really serve his country proudly. I will keep my comments to myself about that. Mr Bill was from I read a very brave man. And was awarded as one. My family ties come out of Virginia and beyond. But seeming to tarnish a man reputation by the other person in the first comment is shameful. Wish I could have met this man and sat and listened to his stories and life experiences. I will have to do some more investigating on him. Would love to learn more.
My father’s brothers and my Grandfather all served in the military and other members in the family. You cant say that the Overstreet men were ever afraid or didnt put their lifes on the line for their country and others.