WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | World War II Ace returns to England for first time since war
Bill Overstreet will visit his airfield, catch up with another pilot from his squadron and sit down with some of his former enemies.
More than 60 years have passed since World War II Ace Bill Overstreet flew his last mission over Europe in his P-51 Mustang called "The Berlin Express."
Overstreet has never sought recognition for himself, but his flights from Leisten Airfield in England continue to bring him attention.More than 60 years have passed since World War II Ace Bill Overstreet flew his last mission over Europe.
This week, the Clifton Forge native and Roanoke resident is returning to Great Britain.
He'll visit his airfield, catch up with another pilot from his squadron and sit down with some of his former enemies.
When Bill Overstreet looks at the painting over his mantle, he thinks of a friend and flier who didn't return from the war...Eddie Simpson, who died fighting with the French Resistance after his plane was shot down in 1944.
"So we've been working on ways to spread that story and get the recognition that we think Eddie deserves," says Overstreet.
Overstreet has never sought recognition for himself, but his flights from Leisten Airfield in England continue to bring him attention.
Overstreet and other pilots of the 357th fighter group escorted bombers on their missions over Germany.
His P-51 Mustang, "The Berlin Express," is featured in a number of paintings, including one by artist Len Krenzler that shows Overstreet chasing a German fighter through the base of the Eiffel Tower.
Overstreet is traveling to England for the first time since the war, at the invitation of an aviation art gallery.
He'll visit the airfield where he was based, and sit down with two German aviators with whom he shares a mutual respect.
"Well there were numerous occasions we would run out of ammunition one thing or another. If you knew it we would just fly up together salute each other and go our ways."
But most of all, he's looking forward to spending time with Bud Anderson, another ace with whom Overstreet flew more than 50 missions... one of many wartime friends, Overstreet says, he was fortunate to know.
"A good bunch of boys," he says.
