William Overstreet Jr. passes
Rick and islandofmisfittoys send us a link the sad news that 92-year-old William Overstreet Jr. has passed. According to the media, Overstreet flew his fighter aircraft between the spans of the Eiffel Tower in pursuit of a Messerschmitt during World War II which lifted the spirits of the French Resistance;
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 its true importance until he spoke with his father.
“My father began shouting at 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.
Well, he’s flying again now and we wish him blue skies ahead.
Category: Blue Skies
Rest In Peace William Overstreet, Jr. I am thankful for his honored and brave service. Fly with the angels now Sir.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.
General George S. Patton
I think Hollywood and the French themselves have painted a picture of the French Resistance during WWII that just quite ain’t so. Albert Speer was questioned after the war about the French Resistance, and gave the following reply – “What French Resistance?”
Never-the-less, any pilot who flew through the Eiffel Tower has some brass cajones, haha. That’s incredible!
@3 KA-BONG!
Let’s project this scenario out to 2014, shall we?:
Because of the Rules of Engagement, the pilot was not allowed to fly around/through/under cultural landmarks of great historical significance. He possibly might have frightened local French merchants who can not longer muster the ability to shout “I surrender”, resulting in millions in reparation payoffs. In addition, the pilot receives a GOMOR, sending his career into a terminal glidepath.
Our nation has lost the will and the stomach to do whatever it takes to win. Despite this, we still create great warriors like SSG Sal Giunta and CPT Will Swenson.
Let’s project this scenario out to 2014, shall we?:
Because of the Rules of Engagement, the pilot was not allowed to fly around/through/under cultural landmarks of great historical significance. He possibly might have frightened local French merchants who can not longer muster the ability to shout “I surrender”, resulting in millions in reparation payoffs. In addition, the pilot receives a GOMOR, sending his career into a terminal glidepath.
Our nation has lost the will and the stomach to do whatever it takes to win. Despite this, we still create great warriors like SSG Sal Giunta and CPT Will Swenson.
Let’s do some projection to 2014, shall we?
General Order Number 1 or the Rules of Engagement prohibit aviators from flying near/through/under/around cultural landmarks of great significance. In addition, local French merchants have been too psychologically damaged by the fly-through to be able to shout “I surrender!” on command, resulting in millions of dollars in reparation. Pilot receives a GOMOR and is reduced in rank.
We have lost the will to win as a nation. No fault of the warrior, just the other 99% who send him to carry out their flawed plans!
Wow! CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE, CEARE FIRE! SUPER-ELEVATE ALL WEAPONS! I got an error message the first two times I tried to post my sarcastic comment!
KLANK! KLANK! KLANK!
The sound of a pair of Big Brass Ones walking down the hall.
http://www.wskg.org/npr/bill-overstreet-famed-wwii-fighter-pilot-dies-92