Obituary of Benjamin Moses Overstreet, Jr

Benjamin Moses Overstreet, Jr, born September 1st 1932 to Diana and Ben Overstreet, Sr. in Bartow, Florida and grew up in New Port Richey, FL.  An only child, he went into the Air Force in 1951 and served 20 years, honorably discharged with the rank of Major.  He earned a Silver Star medal for heroism and a Distinguished Flying Cross medal among a number of others during his career.  As a pilot, he flew B-52 bombers in Vietnam and was a Forward Air Controller during that conflict.  After the AF, he went to work for American Airlines as a simulator instructor, teaching and certifying pilots in the Cessna Citation, Boeing 727, and MD-80 aircraft.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Airport Management.  He is survived by two daughters, Julie D. Taber and Mary E. Overstreet, and two grandsons, Adam and James Taber.  He wrote his memoirs in 2013, Built-In Headwinds, doing some of his own illustrations.  He passed away of natural causes on May 23rd, 2023 at the age of 90.