 “I’m
not sure, I was a little busy.”
– An understatement of remarkable proportions.
After being asked what was around the Eiffel Tower as
he chased an ME 109 beneath the landmark, this is Bill
Overstreet’s response. Easy to understand why he
may not have been checking out the scenery.
In the spring of 1944, Bill Overstreet of the 357th
Fighter Group stayed hot on the tail of a German 109
ME 109G. The German pilot flew over Paris hoping the
heavy German anti-aircraft artillery would solve his
problem and eliminate Overstreet and his P51C, the “Berlin
Express.” Hoping did no good. The German’s
engine was hit, and Overstreet persisted through the
intense enemy flak. As a last resort, the ME109 pilot
aimed his aircraft at the Eiffel Tower and in a breathtaking
maneuver, flew beneath it. The unshakeable Overstreet
followed, and scored 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.
Overstreet describes the heroic event in his own words:
“I had followed this 109 from the bombers when
most of the German fighters left. We had a running dogfight
and I got some hits about 1500 feet. He then led me over
Paris where many guns were aimed at me. As soon as he
was disabled, I ducked down just over the river and followed
the river until I was away from Paris.”
A little busy indeed.
Flying under the Eiffel Tower in pursuit of an enemy
plane is not the only amazing survival story Overstreet
can relate. He also can tell of a “one second parachute
ride,” in addition to flying formation loops around
the Golden Gate Bridge. Mr. Overstreet also flew unconscious
for 90 minutes after his oxygen was shot out, and in
another event, his eyes were swollen shut, he had to
be led back to England from Berlin.
Born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on April the 10th, 1921, Bill Overstreet remembers
a happy childhood. He graduated high school in 1938 and continued his education
in Charleston, West Virginia as a student at Morris Harvey College. For a time,
Bill went to school and worked for Columbia Engineering. He was involved with
both when the war broke, and learned of his acceptance as an Aviation Cadet,
but had to wait a couple of months for an opening in the program.
When the wait was over, Overstreet was shipped to Santa
Anna, California for preflight, and then ventured on
to Tulare, California for primary. After that, he traveled
to Lemoore, California for basic, and lastly, he had
to fight to go to Luke Field to get single engine training.
 After getting his wings, Overstreet joined the 357th
Fighter Group. He trained in P-39s until being sent to
England in November of 1943. He flew an extended tour
and was sent home in October of the following year. His
next assignment was to teach at the gunnery school in
Pinellas, Florida. Overstreet was released from active
duty, but kept in Reserves. So, he returned to Charleston,
West Virginia where he worked as General Manager of Charleston
Aviation.
Overstreet eventually moved to Roanoke, Virginia in
1950 and worked for Andrews-Burket, CPA’s after
T. Coleman Andrews became Director of Internal Revenue
Service for Eisenhower. He then started his own firm,
and retired in 1984. That’s when he really got
down to business. Perhaps now, there would be a bit more
time to observe just what exactly is around the Eiffel
Tower.
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