GPWizard F1 Forum
Everything Else => Off Topic => Topic started by: cosworth151 on January 05, 2014, 05:30:37 PM
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The world has lost a legendary pilot. William Overstreet Jr has died at the age of 92.
In the spring of 1944, he was flying his P51C, named Berlin Express, on a bomber escort mission. On the way back, he tangled with a German Messerschmidt Bf-109 at 30,000ft. The swirling dogfight went lower and lower until they were flying between the buildings in the streets of Paris. The German attempted to evade his pursuer by flying under the Eiffel Tower. Overstreet followed him through, guns blazing. He shot the German fighter down. The people of Paris were so inspired by the site that they rebelled for three days.
A few years ago, he said this in an interview:
"He figured I'd try to get around and he'd have time to get away. He was wrong. 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."
Now that's a pilot!
R.I.P. Sir. Very well done.
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/03/259432775/bill-overstreet-famed-wwii-fighter-pilot-dies-at-92