William Bruce "Bill" Overstreet Jr. (April 10, 1921 – December 29, 2013) was an American fighter pilot and a veteran of the 357th Fighter Group, 363rd Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He is best known for pursuing a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G underneath the arches of the Eiffel Tower in 1944.
Early life William B. Overstreet Jr., was born April 10, 1921, in Clifton Forge, Virginia. His parents were William B. Overstreet and Nannie Gertrude Taylor. William had two older sisters, Bernice Elvin Overstreet and Melvene Gertrude Overstreet.Birth record for William Bruce Overstreet, born 10 April 1921, certificate no. 1921016072. Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Births, 1864–2015. Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912–2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721–1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
William graduated from Clifton Forge High School May 31, 1938. While a student, he was a member of the Junior League his freshman year. Orchestra as a Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. Glee Club as a Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. Part of the V.L. Club where he served as Treasurer, Secretary and finally President. He was in Beta Club his Junior and Senior years. Student Council his Senior year. Bill received the School League Award and American Legion Award prior to graduation."U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880–2012"; School Name: Clifton Forge High School; Year: 1938. Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900–2016 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Military career William enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 12, 1942. He intended to become an Aviation Cadet.Veteran's Administration Index Card for William B. Overstreet, Jr. O-745487. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO. He was accepted as an Aviation Cadet on September 1, 1942, by letter from the CO of the Santa Ana Army Air Base in California.Letter from HQ Santa Ana Army Air Base dated 1 September 1942. Nita's Scrapbook. Riley Family Archives. Privately Held by William and Rachel Riley, Virginia, 2024.
Overstreet began his training at Rankin Aeronautical Academy in Tulare, California. Once complete he transferred to Air Force Advanced Flying School. After completing training he transferred again to Luke Field, Arizona in April 1943. William graduated and earned his Silver Wings at Luke Field on May 20, 1943. After being discharged as an enlisted man, he was re-enlisted as a 2nd Lt. and assigned to the 363rd Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Group stationed at Santa Rosa, California.Monthly Roster 363rd Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Group, dated 30 June 1943, 31 July 1943, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
On June 28, 1943, William was involved in a plane crash while training. The accident was described by William as: "We had completed several aileron rolls, a loop, and some turns in order to hold our position. Then the Flight Leader, Lt. Bochkay, started an aileron roll to the left. I am confident it was started with plenty of airspeed. However, when the ship was approximately in an inverted position, it tumbled. I did not make any sharp movements with the stick that could have caused it, but possibly did use excessive rudder. Truthfully, I cannot state the real cause as I can think of nothing wrong with the plane, maneuver, or execution of the maneuver that could have caused a tumble. When it tumbled, I attempted to recover by trying to hold the nose straight down and once, while in an inverted flat spin, I thought I had it under control but instead, it tumbled again. While I was beaten around in the cockpit a lot, and everything happened so fast that I am not positive of all the plane's actions, apparently it tumbled, went into a flat inverted spin, tumbled again, went into another flat inverted spin and then tumbled on down. At somewhere near three thousand (3,000) or four thousand (4,000) feet I decided to jump but had a little trouble getting the door off. Finally, after both pulling the emergency release and the safety catch, I kicked the right door off and then jumped out. I was then between two hundred (200) and three hundred (300) feet, so I pulled the ripcord immediately and landed between five (5) and ten (10) feet from the plane within two (2) seconds after the parachute opened. I was uninjured, so I got up and signaled the Flight Leader who was circling near me that I was alright."Air Force Accident Report for William B. Overstreet, Jr., O-745487 dated 28 June 1943. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD.On August 27, 1943, Overstreet transferred to Tonopah, Nevada for additional training. After completing training over the desert, he was transferred back to California and then on to Caspar, Wyoming prior to traveling to the east coast to prepare for overseas duty.Company Morning Report 363rd Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Group, dated 27 August 1943. Dated 1 October 1943. Dated 1 November 1943. Dated 23 November 1943. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO.
World War II William and the 363rd Fighter Squadron arrived overseas in England and were initially stationed on December 1, 1943, at USAAF Station 157, RAF Raydon as part of the Ninth Air Force.Company Morning Report 363rd Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Group, dated 1 December 1943. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO. It wasn't long before the 357th Fighter Group was transferred to the station at Leiston where they would serve out the war as part of the Eighth Air Force. The Group became operational in February 1944 and Overstreet had his first "claim to fame" as he called it, when he flew unconscious for 90-minutes during the March 27, 1944 mission. His oxygen mask failed for a time at a higher altitude and he passed out. He regained consciousness and was forced to land at nearby Debden rather than Leiston.363rd Squadron History, March 1944, Mission Report No. 22 dated 27 March 1944. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Olmsted USAF (Ret), MSGT Merle C. To War With The Yoxford Boys. The Complete Story of the 357th Fighter Group. Hamilton, MT: Eagles Editions, Ltd, 2004, p. 67.
April 11, 1944 – The first claims Overstreet's first two claims as a fighter pilot came on April 11, 1944, mission. In the first claim, Overstreet shared a destroyed claim to a HE-11K with Captain Anderson, Lt. Simpson, and 2nd Lt. Kayser. In the Encounter Report he described it as follows.363rd Squadron History, April 1944, Encounter Report by Anderson April 11, 1944. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.The flight (Chamber White) was making practically a gunnery pattern on the ship. I sat right behind it, firing, from about 150 yards, closing in to about 100 yards, and observed hits in the fuselage and engine. As soon as I pulled up, the E/A hit the ground and exploded. I claim one HE-11K (shared).That same day, William reported a Damaged Me 109 stating the following in the Encounter Report.363rd Squadron History, April 1944, Encounter Report #2 April 11, 1944 for Overstreet. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.The Me 109 did a tight turn on the ground, evidently hoping we'd leave him. Several P-51s made quick passes at him and then I got right behind him. He then leveled out and tried to pull away from us. I only had one gun firing by then and observed hits at the cockpit. He was smoking slightly, but I followed him for some time on the deck, pulling away only when out of ammunition. I began firing from [unreadable] yards closing to about 100 yards. I experienced no trouble keeping on his tail then on the deck. I claim a Me 109 damaged.
May 12, 1944 – Destroyed Ju 52 claim Overstreet made another claim for a Destroyed Ju 52 on a mission May 12, 1944 while flying with Captain Clarence "Bud" Anderson who led a group of fighters, on a mission to Czech oil plants. Anderson's account of the sortie is as follows.363rd Squadron History, May 1944, Anderson Encounter Report 12 May 1944 for Overstreet. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.I was leading Cement Blue Flight and while down on the deck; after having shot down a Me 109, we came upon a small grass airfield with no runways and a few hangars on the north and south ends of the field. I saw a Me 109 land and taxi towards the hangar line so I called the flight and we all went down. I caught the 109 that had landed just as he pulled up to the line and stopped. I opened fire at long range and closed getting a good concentrated pattern all the while – I did not see the pilot get out. I then hit the deck pulled over the trees and down the other side of a ridge that was on the south end of the field – there I saw tracers for the first time but not close to me.
My #2, Lt. Overstreet, moved down on my right and strafed a Ju. 52 parked by a hangar on the south side of the field – he saw good strikes from nose to tail and it was smoking when he left. Lt. Overstreet claimed one Destroyed Ju. 52.
My #3, Lt. Pierce, saw a Me 109 bellied in on the west edge – in good shape – and gave it a good strafe job getting hits all over. It caught on fire. Lt. Pierce looked back and saw the Me 109 I strafed smoking badly.
My #4, Lt. Michaely did not fire.
Two aircraft from the Greenhouse Squadron were above and watched us joining in later.
June 29, 1944 – Destroyed FW 190 claim On a mission to France on June 17, 1944, Overstreet made another claim – a destroyed FW 190. His encounter report reads as follows.363rd Squadron History, June 1944, Encounter Report 29 June 1944 for Overstreet. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.I was flying Cement Red #4 when we bounced eight FW-190s. We dived down on their tail. Captain ANDERSON Red Flight #1 was firing at the leader of the formation who soon bailed out. I was closing on the FW-190 on our right when he started to roll over to the left. I was still out of range but closing fast so I opened fire as the ship flipped over the pilot bailed out. Then I broke off to rejoin Red #3.
July 29, 1944 – Destroyed FW 190 in the air On this day, Overstreet entered many claims into the official records. One destroyed Me 109 in the air. One destroyed FW 190 on the ground. A damaged FW 190 on the ground and a probable destroy for a Do 217. Overstreet's statement in the Encounter Reports read:363rd Squadron History, July 1944. July Squadron Summary. 363rd Fighter Squadron Records. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Entry #1. On July 29, I chased a 109 to the deck and had a wing in the grass when he blew up. He must have been trying to get to his base because we were close to a German airfield. My wingman, Harold Hand, and I made a pass and destroyed another 109 and damaged a Do 217. I went back and got another 109 but I found that I was alone. I asked Hand where he was and he replied, "I am giving you top cover."Entry #2I was flying Cement Red #3 and my wingman and I were making a pass on a large field. As we did a Me 109 dove on us slightly to our right. I turned into him as soon as I was across the field and he was fairly close. He turned right leaving me right behind him. Using the gyro gunsight I fired about 30° deflection and got hits. I think the range was about 350 yards. I closed in still firing and hit his coolant. He dropped down right on the ground and as my wing was in the grass I had to pull up. Pieces of the 109 made holes in my canopy. They gyro gunsight (K-14) worked extremely well and I think was responsible for getting the hits at first. I claim one Me 109 destroyed in the air.Operation Frantic V