PDA

View Full Version : William Overstreet and the Eiffel Tower - 1944



Max Rockatansky
01-04-2014, 08:28 PM
In 1944, U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Bill Overstreet became engaged in a dogfight with a German Me-109 and began pursuit as the enemy plane broke away. Overstreet followed the Messerschmitt to the streets of Paris and ended up chasing it underneath the Eiffel Tower whereupon he shot it down to the cheers of the many French who witnessed the fight. This victory over the Germans inspired the French to fight with greater resilience since they recognized the Nazi regime was dying.

Last Sunday, Bill Overstreet died at age 92 in Roanoke, VA where he'd lived the past 63 years.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/william-overstreet-jr-chased-german-aircraft-beneath-arches-of-eiffel/article_77800f72-029d-5258-acf8-977c90dea330.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533373/WWII-fighter-pilot-flew-THROUGH-Eiffel-Tower-dies-Virginia-aged-92.html

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/03/259432775/bill-overstreet-famed-wwii-fighter-pilot-dies-at-92


http://www.warbirdsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/W-Berlin-Express-B.jpg

Peter1469
01-05-2014, 07:11 AM
I saw that, pretty cool!

Max Rockatansky
01-05-2014, 07:15 AM
Yes it was. First I'd heard of it although I do like to read about WWII aviation.

The "Greatest Generation" is very close to completely passing the torch onto the Boomer Generation. Even someone who was 18 in 1945 will be 87 in 2014.

Peter1469
01-05-2014, 08:46 AM
The Boomers need to get out of the way- the most selfish generation gave us our unsustainable debt.

Max Rockatansky
01-05-2014, 12:03 PM
The Boomers need to get out of the way- the most selfish generation gave us our unsustainable debt.

Baby Boomers didn't vote in the past two Presidents alone.