100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Flies Again in P-51 Mustang

At 100 years old, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Joe Peterburs recently returned to the skies in a way few could imagine.

The World War II fighter pilot, who once flew missions over Germany in the iconic P-51 Mustang, took flight once again during the Rumble Over the Redwoods Air Show.

This time, however, he shared the experience with a very special wingman: his granddaughter, Sabrina.

From the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport, Peterburs climbed into a vintage North American P-51H Mustang, while Sabrina took her seat in a P-51D Mustang flying just feet away.

The formation flight along the Pacific Coast became a deeply emotional family moment.

“Her wingtip was about two feet away from mine,” Peterburs recalled during a Zoom interview.

“We were flying in close formation and we were waving to each other. She was smiling and was really happy. She almost filled that rear cockpit up with tears, she was so emotional.”

For Sabrina, the moment was equally unforgettable. “Nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like to fly side by side with him in Mustangs,” she said.

“We flew so close it felt as if our wings could have touched. I looked over and saw him waving, blowing me kisses. My heart melted and tears welled up in my eyes.”

The flight was more than just a family experience. It symbolized Peterburs’ extraordinary career and his lifelong connection to aviation.

He first flew a P-51D, affectionately named “Josephine” after his girlfriend and future wife, on December 2, 1944, as part of the 55th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group. His mission that day was to escort Boeing B-17 bombers to targets in Germany.

“In my 49 missions, I never saw a bomber waiver or be deterred from his mission,” he said. “These men were and are the bravest of the brave and I only hoped that I could have come close to such courage.”

On April 10, 1945, less than a month before the war in Europe ended, his Mustang was hit by antiaircraft fire during a strafing run. He bailed out and was captured by the Germans.

After escaping a POW camp, he encountered advancing Soviet troops, who treated him and other airmen to an unforgettable night of toasts with vodka and wine. “I had never consumed that much alcohol in my life, nor have I since,” he laughed.

That same day, he also achieved one of the most unique moments of his career. After spotting a German Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, he engaged it with his six .50 caliber machine guns.

Sixty years later, historians identified Peterburs as the pilot who had downed Walter Schuck, one of Germany’s top aces. Remarkably, the two later met in 2005 and became close friends.

“He was a real gentleman,” Peterburs said. “When we did air shows together, he introduced me as ‘the man who saved his life’ because he never flew combat again after I shot him down.”

Peterburs’ career extended far beyond that final mission in Europe.

After World War II, he transitioned into the newly formed U.S. Air Force and flew 76 combat missions in Korea. He later switched to jets, piloting the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, and served in Vietnam as a staff operations officer overseeing command and control.

His leadership roles eventually included commanding tactical air control units in Europe.

By the time he retired in 1979 as a full colonel, Peterburs had earned the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, and POW Medal. His service spanned three wars and left an enduring legacy of courage and resilience.

At the Rumble Over the Redwoods air show this August, Peterburs climbed into a P-51 once more. Even at 100 years old, he handled the aircraft with the confidence of his youth. “I also did a victory roll,” he said with a smile, noting that he even pulled 4Gs during aerobatic maneuvers.

The flight also stirred bittersweet memories. He thought of his brothers, both killed in World War II, and of fellow airmen who never came home.

“I like to get the word out to the younger generation about what we went through,” he said. “I hope they understand how many sacrifices young men and women made for their country, so this generation could be free and prosperous and have a decent life.”

For Peterburs, seeing his granddaughter’s Mustang flying alongside his own was the ultimate full-circle moment. After decades of service, survival, and sacrifice, the chance to share the skies with his family was something he never imagined. “It was so heartwarming to look over and see her there,” he said.

The image of a grandfather and granddaughter soaring side by side in two legendary warbirds stands as a powerful reminder of history, family, and the enduring spirit of those who fought for freedom.

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