Col. Joseph Anthony Peterburs (born 1925) is a retired United States Air Force pilot most remembered for an 10 April 1945 shoot down from his propeller-powered North American P-51 Mustang of a technically superior Messerschmitt Me 262 turbojet piloted by Luftwaffe fighter ace Walter Schuck, who survived the crash. It was 60 years before the shoot down was confirmed by German historians, and their work led to a friendship between the former enemies.
Peterburs was the recipient of a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Peterburs was born in November 1924 in St Paul, Minnesota. He was the son of Minnie W. Peterburs.
Petersburs enlisted in 1942. He served with the US Air Force during WWII. In 1945, he was stationed in Northamptonshire, England, when he was shot down over Germany on 10 April 1945. Petersburs' propeller-powered P-51 Mustang was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me 262 turbojet piloted by Luftwaffe pilot Walter Schuck. Before being shot down, Peterburs had flown 49 combat missions. Peterburs was held at Stalag III in Luckenwalde but escaped a week later.
Peterburs also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Over the course of his career, Peterburs received numerous awards and honors including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 2002, Petersburs' shoot-down and capture were confirmed by German historians. Their work led to a friendship between the pilots and former enemies, Petersburg and Schuck.
He retired in 1969 at the rank of colonel. Peterburs continues to give presentations about his career. He flew a Mustang, in 2025, aged 100.