Col. '''Joseph Anthony Peterburs''' (born 1925) is a retired United States Air Force pilot most remembered for an 10 April 1945 shoot down from his propeller-powered North American P-51 Mustang of a technically superior Messerschmitt Me 262 turbojet piloted by Luftwaffe fighter ace Walter Schuck, who survived the crash. It was 60 years before the shoot down was confirmed by German historians, and their work led to a friendship between the former enemies.<ref name="mr2002" /><ref name=b17museum/>

Peterburs was the recipient of a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.<ref name="northamps" />

== Early life and education == Peterburs was born in November 1924 in St Paul, Minnesota.<ref name="northamps">{{Cite news |date=2025-03-02 |title=American airman captured as prisoner of war to return to Kings Cliffe airfield after 80 years |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/american-airman-captured-as-prisoner-of-war-to-return-to-kings-cliffe-airfield-after-80-years-5013353 |access-date=2026-03-11 |work=Northamptonshire Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref group=note>He was born 25 Nov 1924.</ref> He was the son of Minnie W. Peterburs.<ref name="casualties">{{cite news |date=May 21, 1945 |title=Wisconsin Casualties |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/396792628 |url-access=subscription |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=12 |via=newspapers.com|access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref><ref group=note>His parents were William and Wilhemina Peterburs.</ref>

== Career == Petersburs enlisted in 1942.<ref name="muir">{{Cite web |last=Muir |first=David |last2=Noll |first2=Eric |last3=Louallen |first3=Doc |date=12 August 2025 |title=David Muir shares emotional reunion between WWII veteran and fighter plane |url=https://abcnews.com/US/david-muir-shares-emotional-reunion-wwii-veteran-fighter/story?id=124559111 |access-date=2026-03-11 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> He served with the US Air Force during WWII.<ref name="baugh2025" /> In 1945, he was stationed in Northamptonshire, England,<ref name="baugh2025" /> when he was shot down over Germany on 10 April 1945.<ref name="baugh2025" /><ref name="northamps" /> Petersburs' propeller-powered P-51 Mustang shot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 turbojet piloted by Luftwaffe pilot Walter Schuck.<ref name="mr2002" /><ref name=b17museum/> Later, he himself was shot down by a different aircraft. Before being shot down, Peterburs had flown 49 combat missions.<ref name="inquirer">{{cite news |last=Heim |first=Joe |date=12 November 2025 |title=World War II Veterans Speak of Duty and Loss |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1278033495 |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |pages=A10 |via=newspapers.com |agency=Washington Post}}</ref> Peterburs was held at Stalag III in Luckenwalde but escaped<ref name="carter">{{cite news |date=May 4, 1945 |title=Amon Carter Jr. Reported Held in Nazi Hospital |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/371587805 |url-access=subscription |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=2 |via=newspapers.com|access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref> a week later.<ref name="northamps" />

Peterburs also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.<ref name="inquirer" /><ref name="muir" /> Over the course of his career, Peterburs received numerous awards and honors including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.<ref name="northamps" />

In 2002, Petersburs' shoot-down was confirmed by German historians.<ref name="mark">{{Cite news |last=Owens |first=Gene |date=1 Dec 2002 |title=Frank's German Mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1166937774 |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Mobile Register |pages=B1, B4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Their work led to a friendship between the pilots and former enemies, Petersburg and Schuck.<ref name="mr2002" /><ref name="b17museum" />

== Retirement == He retired in 1969 at the rank of colonel.<ref name="muir" /> Peterburs continues to give presentations about his career.<ref name=moreno2025/> He flew a Mustang, in 2025, aged 100.<ref name="muir" />

== References == {{Reflist|1|refs= <ref name=baugh2025>{{Cite web | title = US WW2 fighter pilot takes to skies at Duxford in Mustang | author = Emma Baugh | work = bbc.com | date = 2025-04-11 | access-date = 2026-03-10 | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23003d2j13o | quote = }}</ref>

<ref name=mr2002>{{Cite web | title = German historians reunite two WWII flyers | author = | work = The Mobile Register, Dec 01, 2002, page 30 | date = 2002-12-01 | access-date = 2026-03-10 | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/1166937774/ | quote = }}</ref>

<ref name=moreno2025>{{Cite web | title = American Heritage Museum to Host WWII P-51 Ace Col. Joe Peterburs at Historic Aviation Weekend - | last = Aguiari | first = Moreno | work = Vintage Aviation News | date = 2025-09-09 | access-date = 2026-03-10 | url = https://vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-museum-news/american-heritage-museum-to-host-wwii-p-51-ace-col-joe-peterburs-at-historic-aviation-weekend.html | quote = }}</ref>

<ref name=b17museum>{{Cite web | title = Col. Joe Peterburs and the Tiger of the Tundra Walter Schuck | author = | work = B17 Museum Utzenstorf | date = | access-date = 2026-03-10 | url = https://www.b17museum.ch/news_e.php?id=80 | language = | quote = }}</ref> }}

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

== External links == * [https://joepeterburs.com/bio Personal website] * Video short - [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/giAgRJ1C6-E My Favourite Part of Fighter Combat] via YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterburs, Joe}} Category:Living people <!-- denull after article creation --> Category:1925 births