P-51

LEGENDARY P-51B MUSTANG THAT FLEW UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER TO PERFORM IN ENGLAND WITH F-22 RAPTOR

By Dario Leone
Jun 29 2017
Share this article

The P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” will make a historic transatlantic flight from the U.S. to England

The P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” achieved legendary status in an epic World War II dogfight in Paris in 1944, piloted by American Bill Overstreet, who flew the aircraft under the Eiffel Tower in hot pursuit of a German fighter. Overstreet eventually downed the German plane and eluded heavy enemy fire while escaping the battle with aircraft intact.

As reported in the article Famed World War II P-51B Mustang ‘Berlin Express’ to make transatlantic flight to perform in England with F-22, More than 70 years after this landmark moment, the “Berlin Express” will take to the skies again to honor the brave airmen who fought against the Axis powers in WW II. Civilian pilot Dan Friedkin, “Berlin Express” owner and one of only nine civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with U.S. Air Force single-ship demonstration teams, will fly and perform the historic aircraft in the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in Fairford, England, July 14-16, with the Air Combat Command’s F-22 aerial demonstration team.

“The ‘Berlin Express’ is an iconic war plane that is symbolic of our country’s strong aviation history,” explained Friedkin. “It’s an honor to pilot this aircraft … as we pay homage to the brave men and women who have flown in the U.S. Air Force. We’re excited to offer people around the world the chance to follow Lee’s memorable voyage of the ‘Berlin Express’ across the Atlantic and look forward to celebrating his arrival in Duxford.”

Noteworthy before the airshow gets underway, the “Berlin Express” will make a historic transatlantic flight from the U.S. to England, with U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight Alumni Lee Lauderback in the cockpit.

Actually Lauderback will follow the same route it took in 1942 as part of the military troop buildup in the U.K. during WW II. The four-day, 5,470-mile journey has begun on Jun. 28 in Texas and be mapped by a SPOT Gen3 tracking device that will transmit the aircraft’s location on a Google Earth map in five-minute intervals. The flight path of the “Berlin Express”, along with photos taken along the way by Lauderback, can be followed on HorsemenFlight.com through its landing in Duxford on July 4.

After departing Texas on Jun. 28, Lauderback will fly the “Berlin Express” to Bangor, Maine, Goose Bay, Canada, Narsarsuaq, Greenland, Keflavik, Iceland and Prestwick, Scotland before arriving at Duxford Airfield.

The restored “Berlin Express” is based around the remains of the P-51B 43-24837. This Mustang flew with the 9th Air Force’s 363rd Fighter Group out of RAF Staplehurst in Kent, England. It crashed in Beckley on Jun. 10, 1944 after the pilot was forced to bail out during a training exercise. Featuring a “Malcolm Hood” canopy and wearing the markings for “Berlin Express,” it is dressed exactly like the 357th Fighter Group Mustang which Overstreet famously flew under the Eiffel Tower in 1944.

Photo credit: Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle / U.S. Air Force


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

    List of some possible advertising permissions:

    You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices