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World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
If you look for a reason to build a P-51C....
Lucky13
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: June 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,707 posts
AeroScale: 1,119 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 11:11 PM UTC
.....here's one!

When you have Bill Overstreet on your tail, not even a daring maneuver such as flying right under the Eiffel tower is going to save you, as this ME109 pilot discovered the hard way. In the spring of 1944, Bill Overstreet of the famous 357th FG was hot on the tail of a German ME109G. The pilot of the 109 flew right over Paris where German anti-aircraft artillery was heavy, probably in hopes they would solve his problem by eliminating Bill and his P51C named the “Berlin Express”. Bill persisted through intense flak closing the gap with the enemy fighter. Already hit in the engine, as a last resort the ME109 pilot aimed his aircraft toward the imposing Eiffel tower and in a breathtaking maneuver flew right under it. Even this was not enough to shake Bill as he followed right behind scoring several more hits in the process. The German ME109 crashed moments later and Bill escaped the heavy flak around Paris by flying low and full throttle over the river.
Here is the encounter described in Bill's own words: "I had followed this 109 from the bombers when most of the German fighters left. We had a running dogfight and I got some hits about 1500 feet, He then led me over Paris where Many guns were aimed at me. As soon as he was disabled, I ducked down just over the river (smaller target for the Germans ). Followed the river until I was away from Paris." - Bill
When asked what was around the tower at the time, Bill said, “I'm not sure, I was a little busy.” Quite understandable!

Beat that! :-) And it's the 357th FG, one of my favourite fighter groups......
Lucky13
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: June 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,707 posts
AeroScale: 1,119 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 11:29 PM UTC
Message to crew on B-17G "Outhouse Mouse......

The voice from the pilot of the 357th Fighter Group....
The story is best told by Samuel Harry Glasser, radio operator-gunner aboard a B-17G called the "Outhouse Mouse." His formation was about to be jumped by a pack of Luftwaffe fighters but the B17s were being escorted by P-51 Mustangs. The pilot of "Hurry Home Honey" radioed his 'big friend' and said, "I'll be right back, fellas. I'm gonna go play with these boys." Looks like he played for keeps because he came back. The pilot of that plane was Richard "Bud" Peterson.
Richard Peterson was a well loved fighter pilot of the 357 th fighter group and went on to score 15.5 aerial victories and become one of the greatest Mustang aces of the war.
Also know among bomber crews as "The Shepherd of the sky".....
Plasticat
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Idaho, United States
Joined: September 03, 2003
KitMaker: 448 posts
AeroScale: 10 posts
Posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 - 01:07 AM UTC
Great stories! Thanks for sharing. The Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho is restoring a P51C. It is nearly complete......



Lucky13
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: June 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,707 posts
AeroScale: 1,119 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 07:02 PM UTC
Bristol Beaufighter Mk. IC
236 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Ser. no. T4800
Wattisham, Suffolk
June 1942

This Beaufighter is probably the most famous of them all. On 12th June, 1942, crewed by Flight Lieutenant A.K. Gatward (Pilot) & Sergeant G. Fern (Observer), this aircraft dropped a French Tricolore on the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, and then strafed the nearby Headquarters of the Kriegsmarine
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