The American Heritage Museum proudly welcomes Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Joe Peterburs, a World War II P-51 Mustang ace best known for shooting down a German Me 262 jet fighter piloted by German ace Walter Schuck on April 10, 1945, as a special guest speaker during the Historic Aviation Weekend on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2025.
The victory over the revolutionary Me 262—a rare achievement for any Allied pilot—occurred during an escort mission over Berlin while Col. Peterburs was flying with the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. That moment, near the closing days of World War II, cemented his place in aviation history and remains one of the most dramatic episodes of the air war over Europe.
Col. Peterburs will recount this extraordinary mission, his broader wartime experiences, and meeting and befriending Walter Schuck after the war in his presentation, “Against the Odds – P-51 Mustang Ace and How He Shot Down a German Me 262 During WWII,” held each day from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the museum’s aircraft hangar during the event.
His appearance comes shortly after he was featured in a moving ABC News special in August 2025, where, at 101 years old, he once again climbed into the cockpit of a P-51 Mustang—the same aircraft type he flew in combat. The emotional segment highlighted both his enduring spirit and the deep bond between aviator and aircraft. See that feature at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/david-muir-shares-emotional-reunion-wwii-veteran-fighter/story?id=124559111
Beyond Col. Peterburs’s presentation, the Historic Aviation Weekend will immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of flight history. The event features daily flight demonstrations of rare and historic aircraft, including the Stinson L-5/OY-1 Sentinel & Fieseler Fi-156 Storch WWII observation aircraft, the Waco UIC that survived the Pearl Harbor attack, an AT-6 Texan WWII advanced trainer, and a new PT-17 Stearman with wartime service with the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Attendees will also enjoy expert talks, living history reenactments, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to meet aviation historians and veterans who keep these remarkable stories alive. The weekend offers something for all ages—families, enthusiasts, and anyone inspired by the legacy of flight.
For more information on the Historic Aviation Weekend, please visit: https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/history-takes-flight-historic-aviation-weekend
About Col. Joe Peterburs
Col. Peterburs enlisted in November 1942, earned his wings in April 1944, and flew 49 combat missions in the P-51 Mustang. On April 10, 1945, while escorting B-17 bombers near Berlin, he engaged and downed a German Me 262 jet fighter—one of the first operational jets in history. Later shot down himself, he evaded capture before rejoining Allied forces. After WWII, he continued his service through the Korean War and Vietnam era, retiring as a colonel in 1969.
More information at: https://joepeterburs.com
About the American Heritage Museum
A program of the Collings Foundation, the Museum houses the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection, one of the world’s largest collections of historic tanks, military vehicles, and aircraft. Its immersive exhibits and Living History Weekends bring history alive through dynamic demonstrations, veteran speakers, and interactive experiences.
More information at: https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org
