From May 9–11, 2026, the City of Douglas, Coffee County, and the 63rd Preservation Society were honored to host Colonel (Ret.) Joseph A. Peterburs, USAF—Class 1944 C, P‑51 combat pilot, World War II POW, Korean and Vietnam War veteran, and American hero—on his return to Douglas after more than 80 years. Peterburs entered active duty at age 18 as an aviation cadet, and at 101 years old he is believed to be the last surviving cadet who trained in Douglas.
Colonel Joseph Peterburs, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1979. He attended primary flight training in Douglas at the WWII Air Base and was a member of the Squadron 11, Class of 44-C. During World War II, he flew 49 combat missions as a P‑51 Mustang fighter pilot with the 8th Air Force. He shot down a leading German ace before being shot down himself, after which he was captured near Berlin. He later escaped captivity and spent time fighting alongside a Russian tank unit. Col. Peterburs flew an additional 76 missions during the Korean War and later held significant command and operational positions throughout the Cold War and Vietnam era, including assignments with NORAD, NATO, and the Royal Air Force. Over the course of his distinguished 36‑year career, he logged more than 4,000 flight hours and earned numerous honors, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.
Before arriving in Douglas, Col. Peterburs served as a special guest speaker and shared his experiences at the 45th Annual Gathering of the Eagles Capstone Week at Maxwell Air Force Base. The event is an annual program dedicated to honoring aviation pioneers and inspiring the study of aviation history. Following the event, he and his family visited Napier Field, where he trained on the AT‑6 and completed pilot training. Accompanied by the 23rd Wing Commander, he also toured The Heritage Center at Moody Air Force Base and received a VIP visit to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia.
While in Douglas, Col. Peterburs had the opportunity to fly in a PT‑17 Stearman—the type of aircraft used for primary pilot training at the Air Base during World War II. During a guided tour of Douglas, he shared stories of attending movies at the Martin Centre, visiting the Cadet Club at the Dent House, and the demanding nine weeks of primary flight training. At Paulk Field, the PT‑17 flown by Chris Rounds passed over as a tribute to the cadets who flew 82 years ago. Col. Peterburs also visited the WWII Flight Training Museum, Douglas–Coffee County Veterans Park, and the 63rd Flying Training Detachment memorial, followed by a lunch hosted by Mayor Tony Paulk and local leaders, where Mayor Paulk formally proclaimed the day as “Joe Peterburs Day” in Douglas and Coffee County. After lunch, Col. Peterburs added his signature to the fuselage panel that bears the names of returning cadets from previous 63rd AAF‑FTD reunions. This signed panel is displayed in the airport terminal and will be preserved for future generations.
Special thanks go to all who contributed to the success of this memorable visit: The Douglas 63rd Preservation Society, Douglas–Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield Inn, Covered Wagon Country Buffet, WWII Flight Training Base Committee, Moody AFB, Chris Rounds, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Tim Oliver (WWII Flight Training Museum docent), and the City of Douglas.
