10. Under The Eiffel Tower

Jamie Beckett

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 09:29 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

American P-51 pilot William Overstreet Jr. gained fame for chasing a Messerschmitt 109 under the Eiffel Tower during a 1944 dogfight.
The feat was ceremonially repeated in 1991 by a Bonanza, supported by the French government, to commemorate Overstreet's historic act.
Flying under the Eiffel Tower has a history dating back to WWI, likely performed by numerous pilots, though few have publicly taken credit for it.

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To commemorate a famous 1944 dogfight, in which American P-51 pilot and fighter ace William Overstreet Jr. chased a Messerschmitt 109 under the Eiffel Tower, a Bonanza in 1991 repeated the feat, with support from the French government. How many pilots have flown under the arch of the tower? Probably more than a few. It has been done since at least since WWI, and few of the pilots who have done so stepped up to take credit for the feat.