In 1944, a young aviation cadet named Joseph A. Peterburs earned his silver wings and began a journey that would carry him from rural Georgia to the skies over war-torn Europe. Today, at 100 years old, he remains a living link to the courage and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. His story—rooted in Douglas, Georgia, and reaching across continents—stands as a testament to resilience, service, and the enduring power of flight.
TRAINING IN GEORGIA
Born in 1924, Joseph A. Peterburs grew up during the depths of the Great Depression. Like many of his generation, the events of Pearl Harbor propelled him toward military service. He was selected for the U.S. Army Air Forces pilot training program and reported to the 63rd Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment in Douglas, Georgia.
Douglas, a small south Georgia town, became a hub of wartime aviation activity. Local airfields trained thousands of young cadets, transforming raw recruits into skilled aviators. For Peterburs, Douglas was the first step in a journey that would take him to the very front lines of the air war against Nazi Germany. He appears in the Squadron 11, Class of 44-C photograph, one of many cadets who trained in the pine forests and open skies of Georgia before heading overseas.
After Douglas, Peterburs advanced to Napier Field in Dothan, Alabama, where he earned his wings. He trained initially on the rugged Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, a fighter known for its toughness and widely used in the early years of the war. The experience prepared him for the powerful fighter that would define his career: the North American P-51 Mustang.
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC
In 1944, Peterburs boarded the Ile de France, a converted French ocean liner pressed into wartime service as a troop transport. Alongside thousands of other young servicemen, he crossed the dangerous waters of the Atlantic, bound for England. His destination was Kings Cliffe Royal Air Force Station, the wartime home of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 20th Fighter Group.
The 20th Fighter Group, and specifically the 55th Fighter Squadron, flew the P-51 Mustang in long-range escort and fighter missions. The group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force. Their primary job was to protect American bombers as they struck deep into German territory—Berlin, Munich, Dresden, and other heavily defended targets. The bombers relied on their Mustang escorts to fend off swarms of German fighters, including the feared Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
INTO COMBAT
Lieutenant Peterburs quickly joined the relentless pace of air combat. He logged 49 missions and more than 269 combat hours, flying deep into enemy territory. Escort missions were grueling and dangerous; pilots had to stay with the bombers for hours, often under constant threat from both enemy fighters and heavy anti-aircraft fire.
For the young Georgian-trained pilot, each mission was a test of skill and endurance. The P-51 gave him the ability to go toe-to-toe with the Luftwaffe’s best, while its long range allowed him to stay with the bombers all the way to their targets and back. The men of the 20th Fighter Group knew their role was vital: without escorts, bomber losses mounted catastrophically. With Mustangs like Peterburs at their side, the balance of the air war shifted toward Allied victory.
A CAREER BEYOND WWII
Peterburs’ service did not end in 1945. After returning from Europe, he continued to fly and later served his country again in the Korean War, once more at the controls of the P-51 Mustang. His dedication to aviation spanned decades, reflecting a lifelong commitment to defending freedom and to the camaraderie of military service.
A CENTURY OF FLIGHT
In 2024, Joseph A. Peterburs marked his 100th birthday. Remarkably, he celebrated the milestone not on the ground, but back in the cockpit of a Mustang. At a California air show, organizers arranged for him to take to the skies once more in the fighter he knew so well. Eight decades after first learning to fly in Georgia, Peterburs again felt the roar of the Merlin engine and the freedom of flight—a moment captured and celebrated in national news, including the Air Force Times article, “100-year-old WWII veteran soars once again in P-51 Mustang.”
For those who trained with him in Douglas and Dothan, and for all who admire the legacy of the Greatest Generation, this flight symbolized the enduring spirit of America’s wartime aviators. Even at a century of life, the bond between pilot and plane remained unbroken.
LEGACY OF THE GEORGIA WWII HERITAGE TRAIL
The story of Joseph A. Peterburs is deeply connected to Georgia’s role in World War II. The 63rd AAF Flying Training Detachment in Douglas and WWII Flight Training Museum is part of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail, a statewide initiative linking museums and historic sites that preserve the memory of the war years. Thousands of young cadets—Peterburs among them—passed through Georgia’s training fields, preparing for the battles that would shape the outcome of the war.
Today, visitors to Douglas can explore this history and honor the men who trained there. For many, discovering the story of an individual like Peterburs makes the larger history personal and immediate. It reminds us that behind every number and statistic of the war stood young men and women whose lives were forever changed by the experience.
A LIVING EXAMPLE
What sets Joseph A. Peterburs apart is not only his distinguished combat record but also his longevity and willingness to share his story. At 100 years old, he remains one of the few living aviation cadets from Georgia’s training fields, a direct voice from an era that shaped the modern world. His experiences illustrate the courage of the airmen who took to the skies in fragile machines, facing long odds and immense danger with determination.
For those who walk the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail, his name offers a reminder that history is not just in books or museums—it lives on in the memories and stories of men like him. His century of life has bridged the world of prop-driven Mustangs and the modern jet age, yet his love of flight and his commitment to service remain unchanged.
LEARN MORE
See Joseph A. Peterburs in the Squadron 11, Class of 44-C photograph (opens in new window).
View his picture with his instructor (opens in new window).
Read more about his experiences in the Air Force Times article: 100-year-old WWII veteran soars once again in P-51 Mustang.
CONCLUSION
From the training fields of Douglas, Georgia, to the skies of Europe and Korea, Joseph A. Peterburs embodies the spirit of the American airman in World War II. His story is one of courage, resilience, and devotion to duty. As one of the last surviving members of his generation, his continued presence serves as both inspiration and reminder: the freedoms we enjoy today were secured by young men like him who took to the skies when the world needed them most.
The Georgia WWII Heritage Trail is proud to honor his legacy, ensuring that his journey—and the journey of thousands of others who trained in Georgia—will never be forgotten.