Last week, on Thursday 9th April, we had the privilege of welcoming WWII American veteran Joe Peterburs, aged 102, to our hangars at Biggin Hill.
Joe enlisted at just 18 years old and went on to fly P-51 Mustangs in combat over Europe. On this special visit, he fulfilled a lifelong ambition—taking to the skies in a Supermarine Spitfire for the very first time.
Welcomed by the FlyaSpitfire team, Joe flew with Barry Hughes in Spitfire MJ627, enjoying a memorable flight over the Kent countryside. Our chase aircraft joined alongside to capture the occasion, and Joe even took the controls himself—an extraordinary moment for a man who once flew combat missions in the Mustang.
Watching from the ground was fellow WWII veteran and Mosquito pilot Colin Bell, aged 105, who was delighted to see Joe airborne in the Spitfire.
Adding to the occasion, P-51 Mustang Marinell was also in the skies at the same time, with a member of Joe’s family on board. With three Mustangs on-site that day, it made for a truly special gathering of historic aircraft.
From Cadet to Combat Pilot
Joe enlisted on 30th November 1942, just days after his 18th birthday, and began active duty as an Aviation Cadet in January 1943. He earned his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in April 1944, initially flying P-40s and A-24s during training.
At just 19 years old, he transitioned to the P-51 Mustang, accumulating around 20 hours on B, C, and D variants before flying his first combat mission in December 1944.
At 20 years old he went on to complete 49 combat missions over Europe, primarily escorting B-17 bombers deep into Germany and engaging enemy aircraft.
His Final Mission
On 10 April 1945, during his 49th mission, Joe was escorting over 450 B-17 bombers to targets near Berlin when a formation of Me 262 jets attacked.
From a high-cover position, he spotted one jet cutting through the bomber stream, destroying multiple B-17s. Using his altitude advantage, Joe positioned himself behind the aircraft and opened fire, striking its wing and engine. The damaged jet disappeared into cloud—years later, he would learn the pilot was forced to bail out.
Shortly after, Joe strafed an enemy airfield, destroying several hangars and at least five aircraft on the ground. However, his own aircraft sustained heavy damage from ground fire, forcing him to bail out over Burg, Germany, where he was captured and became a prisoner of war.
In a remarkable turn of events, he escaped within a week and was picked up by a Russian tank unit—going on to fight alongside Soviet forces as they advanced toward the Elbe.
A Lifetime of Service
Joe continued his military career after WWII, flying P-51 Mustangs again during the Korean War, where he completed 76 combat missions. He later served during the Vietnam War as a Staff Operations Officer with 7th Air Force Headquarters.
Lt Colonel Peterburs retired in 1979 after more than 36 years of service, having completed 125 combat missions and logged over 400 hours in the P-51 Mustang.
It was a true honour to welcome Joe and his family to Biggin Hill and to hear his incredible stories firsthand. Seeing him take to the skies in a Spitfire—decades after his wartime service—was a moment none of us will forget. As a lasting memento of his visit, Joe also signed the cockpit door of Spitfire TA805—an especially meaningful gesture from a WWII fighter pilot.
For more about Joe’s remarkable story, visit:
https://joepeterburs.com/bio
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