 Joseph
Peterburs enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in November
1942 and was called to duty as an Aviation Cadet in January
1943.
After basic training and aircraft training, he was
selected for single-engine pilot training and, in April
1944, received his wings and a commission as a 2nd
Lieutenant.
At 19, Peterburs was assigned to the 20th Fighter
Group, 55th Squadron serving in England where the group
was flying the P-51 Mustang. He flew 49 missions for
the 20th Fighter Group.
On his last mission, flying escort for B-17 bombers
headed toward Berlin, Peterburs chased a Me262 slicing
through the formation and attacked. After injuring
the 262, Peterburs strafed an airfield several times,
destroying five enemy aircraft and damaging several
hangars, but his aircraft was too damaged to make it
back to base.
He eventually bailed out near Burg, Germany and was
immediately captured as a prisoner of war. He quickly
escaped, joined the Russians and fought with them to
the battle of Wittenburg on the river Elbe.
After World War II, Peterburs held several command
and administrative non-flying positions, but continued
to fly B-25s and C-47s to maintain his proficiency.
At 22, he was promoted to Captain in June 1947.
In December 1951, he was recalled to active duty and
assigned to the 12th Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomb Group
flying out of Hoengsong, Korea, where he was a Squadron
Flight Leader, Assistant Group Operations Officer and
Group Training Officer.
After serving in Korea, Peterburs served a tour in
Newfoundland, a tour at North American Aerospace Defense
Command (NORAD) Headquarters and a tour with the Royal
Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command Headquarters at Bushy
Heath, England.
 In 1967, Peterburs was assigned to the 7th Air Force
Headquarters, Vietnam, as Staff Operations Officer
for command and control in the war zone. From 1968
to 1972 he was Director of the 31st NORAD Region Combat
Operations Center. He was promoted to Colonel in 1969.
Colonel Peterburs retired after 36 years of military
service in 1979 as a command pilot with over 2000 hours
of conventional and 2000 hours of jet time. He flew
125 combat missions.
His decorations include: The legion of Merit, The
Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster
(OLC), the Bronze Star with one OLC, The Purple Heart
with one OLC, the Air Medal with seven OLCs, the POW
Medal and 32 other medals and decorations.
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