Humble hero: 100-year-old fighter pilot who served in 3 wars makes 1st visit to AirVenture

WLUK-TV FOX 11 ^ | David Go

[Macho MAGA Man]

A 100-year-old veteran raised in Wisconsin is taking in his first EAA AirVenture. Colonel Joe Peterburs’ career is one worth highlighting -- serving in three wars, shooting down various enemy planes and surviving as a prisoner of war (POW). He's at AirVenture in Oshkosh celebrating with a restored replica of his World War II B-51 Mustang -- complete with the name Josephine, after his late wife.

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TOPICS: History; Local News; Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: airventure; joepeterburs; oshkosh; p51mustang

[Macho MAGA Man]

Incredible story. This guy has the right stuff, even at 100. He's so sharp and articulate. He even shot down a German ME-262 fighter jet in his prop driven P-51 Mustang.

[DesertRhino]

One of the few incredible men who flew WWII, Korea and Vietnam...

[Da Coyote]

I’ve flown many modern jets, but envy and respect a WW-II pilot who got to command a Mustang.

[Da Coyote]

I’ve flown many modern jets, but envy and respect a WW-II pilot who got to command a Mustang.

[Vaduz]

Colonel Joe Peterburs = Top Gun

[BatGuano]

Great story! Not many pilots served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
And, yes, there are some humble fighter pilots.

[Semper Vigilantis]

Definitely The Greatest Generation.
I’m not taking anything from our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen since then. I am talking about an entire generation and entire generations since.
People who knew how much they stood to lose. People who were seeing evil and not looking away. People who didn’t want to, but did it anyway because it was the right thing to do. If not me, who?
Maybe it’s because I grew up military, traveled the world, saw how other countries lived and were governed, believe in The Constitution and the Oath to Defend and Protect it.
It seems each generation’s majority is softer, cannot/will not be bothered, they want/expect everything to be handed to them while they ride previous generations’ coat tails.
I’m glad I am getting old because I am saddened by what i see around me. College graduates that cannot read, People that believe removing a dog’s testis makes him a neutered male, but removing a man’s testis makes him a woman.
People who have no idea HOW/When/Why this Republic was formed and how fragile it is. People who cannot function without a cellphone, cannot be bothered to write an entire word (it’s a text, not a telegram - you can use all the letters) or have an original thought - Thanks AI.
My generation had bomb shelters, bunkers, could DO things, we could BUILD things. We went to the moon with a slide rule and landed there with less computer than a digital watch! We were the ones that would rebuild society - and we knew how.
I weep for my children’s children and their children.
I weep for The Republic.
God Blessed America, God save the Republic.

[linMcHlp]

Colonel Joe Peterburs

bttt

[Brian Griffin]

“B-51 Mustang”

[Retain Mike]

I knew so many men like him as I grew up. I identified with and respected them all the years since. Among those I knew were an ace who served in the Flying Tigers, a ranger who scaled Point-Du-Hoc on D-Day, a UDT sailor who cleared surf obstacles before the Okinawa landing, and a man with the 10th Mountain Infantry who received two silver stars and was the only one of eight officers in his company to land in Italy in January 1945 and soldier through the 102 days until the Germans surrendered.

When I first met them, they were in their 30’s and 40’s, because my father took me with him golfing on the weekends when I was in junior high. They were teachers, cooks, carpenters, bankers, and car salesmen. I remember feelings of surprise and esteem on those random occasions when the subject of service would come up. I decided then military service was just another rite of passage into adulthood. I really wanted to be a CPA, but when my turn came I volunteered and ended up in Vietnam.

[Allegra]

Thank you for your service.

[exnavy]

Awesome.

[exnavy]

I hold out hope. My three kids are thriving, no collage education. My oldest daughter and husband have a twenty acre hobby farm. Chickens goats, dogs and cats. They birth them grow them, grow their own food. My middle daughter teaches elementary kids. My son is a master electrician, his wife is a ferrier. All are conservative, and happy. They have given us eight amazing grand kids. Most are home schooled.

[mabarker1]

Well worded and so true, Thank You and to the Greatest Generation Thank You ALL for saving the Free World from the sicko tyrants !!!

[mabarker1]

(((Greatest Generation PING)))

[Bonemaker]

B 51?

We know what he means...B rhymes with P.

[Bonemaker]

The guy would have been 20 when WW 2 ended. Took some serious stones. Lot of tough-ass men came out of that era. Give him another 100 years. Godspeed airman.

[ridesthemiles]

DO YOU MEAN “P-51 MUSTANG?”