42-103309 Berlin Express

Assigned to 363FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF.



On 29 June 1944 Capt William B Overstreet claimed to have chased an Me-109 down the Champs Elysee and below the Eiffel tower arches prior to shooting it down, but no evidence exists to confirm the veracity of the claim. Transferred to 55FS, 20FG, 8AF USAAF. Written off in take off accident, 12-Jul-44.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Joseph Neill Buie

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 55th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20466052 / O-743403
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

William Bruce Overstreet

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-745787
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Leiston airfield looking south, the control tower and technical site are to the right, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/929. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Leiston

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Theberton/Saxmundham

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

E/A Destroyed

Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France 29 June 1944 Capt William B Overstreet claimed to have chased a Me-109 down the Champs Elysee and below the Eifel tower arches prior to shooting it down on this date, however no evidence exists to confirm the veractiy of this claim.

Crashed

King's Cliffe, Peterborough PE8, UK 12 July 1944 Take Off Accident King's Cliffe/Sta 367 Cat 5 damage Lt Joseph N Buie, 12-Jul-44. P-51C 42-103309 - 55FS 20FG 8AF.

Manufactured

Inglewood, CA, USA Built at North American.

Delivered

Beale AFB, CA, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Leiston IP16, UK Assigned to 363FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Wittering, Peterborough PE8, UK Transferred to 55FS, 20FG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=113531
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=42-103309&Submit4=Go
Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group By Chris Bucholtz

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Overstreet's claim to shoot down the ME109 under the Eiffel Tower cannot be verified. There is not a combat report detailing the incident by Overstreet, his wingman or other members of the squadron. Additionally there is no aircraft loss report for an ME109 near Paris for 29 June 1944.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Description" - "Eiffel" was misspelled.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=42-103309&Submit…
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=113531
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=42-103309&Submit4=Go
Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group By Chris Bucholtz