Comments on: Under the tower

By: ER

ER — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:08:01 +0000

But this story does come with some corroboration, particularly from the French authorities. Overstreet’s own account is certainly plausible, and has held up for decades. He mentions he was in pursuit of German fighters that had attacked a bomber formation he was escorting, and that the Messerschmitt probably flew under the tower to force his pursuer to go over or around it, thereby buying some time. Overstreet also describes his escape from heavy flak by flying low along the Seine. The city was heavily defended against bomber attack, but taking down one fighter engaged in evasive maneuvers is difficult for AAA.

Truth is always the first casualty of war, and its possible this is just feel-good propaganda. But I’m inclined to believe it.

By: bowser

bowser — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 06:04:41 +0000

That Me 109 would have been gone long before that P-51 got that close.

And while absolutely not definitive, Paris was declared an “open city”, meaning that there would be no hostilities there. No defense. How and if that would apply to fighters in hot pursuit I don’t know, but it does leave how much military activity would take place open to question.

I have no doubt a bunch of people flew under the Eiffel Tower, I just suspect this scene.

By: DanS

DanS — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 19:46:38 +0000

Excellent example of precision flying in the heat of combat, with every nerve bared and alert.

By: ER

ER — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 14:00:35 +0000

Leave it to the French to wait 65 years before giving him a medal.

By: SteveS

SteveS — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 13:46:15 +0000

As the German pilot desperately sought to out-maneuver Overstreet, he flew beneath the Eiffel Tower – but the brave American flew directly beneath it and continued to fire.
The German plane crashed and Overstreet was able to escape the city.

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