One of the highlights of the Show of Shows.

[B-Man2]

Found another quick You Tube of Joe meeting Walter Shuck 60 years after he had shot him down .

 

[saucerfiend]

Amazing stuff!

 

[LV426]

The SOS’s has concluded however, there was one final surprise in store that I did not see coming . Tonight in the bar at the Crown Plaza Hotel, I had the unexpected pleasure of having a couple of drinks with 99 year old
P-51D Mustang pilot Joe Peterburs. Joe had just finished up his celebrity visit at the SOS’s where he was taking photos and signing autographs and promoting his book “Memories of a Mustang Pilot” . I got to spend about an hour with Joe where it was like taking to a family relative. This is part of his story as he told it to me. Joe entered the army at the age of 17 years old and two years later at the age of 19 he’s a P-51D pilot flying top cover over a group of B-17s about to bomb Germany. At the completion of the bomb run, Joe saw an ME-262 on an attack run at one of the B-17s, so he dove at the jet and opened fire as the jet flew past him. He hit the jets left engine and it went down with the German pilot just barely bailing out of the aircraft before it hit the ground. Little did Joe realize it at the time but at 19 years old he had just shot down Walter Shuck a leading German Ace with 206 confirmed Kills. Joe never had a chance to celebrate that victory because later that day while strafing some ground targets Joe was shot down, bailed out and was taken prisoner. He was taken to Berlin to a POW camp, where he later escaped and met up with a Russian Tank unit at stayed with them for the next couple of months. I don’t want to relate any more details because you can read it in his book. He’s a great guy . At the end of the evening Joe willingly consented to sign my ELC Werber 1729. After which the hotel fire alarm went off, and we had to evacuate the premises . So here’s Joe and my Jacket and a couple of links for you guys to get to know him. This was the highlight of my trip. It’s back home tomorrow.
View attachment 139635View attachment 139637

World War II Memories of a Mustang Pilot - First Edition - Signed - Joe Peterburs - Bauman Rare Books

World War II Memories of a Mustang Pilot rare book for sale. This First Edition, Signed by Joe PETERBURS is available at Bauman Rare Books.

www.baumanrarebooks.com

Hi Burt , I read this story after saw your last post this morning . Thank you for sharing all this . I'm gonna get the book of this incredible ( among all the others ) man ( and women ) who fought in these days . 99 years old , now 100 ,and so much life in his eyes and smile . Have a nice day . Wish to Joe Peterburs all the best and more !

 

[B-Man2]

Hi Burt , I read this story after saw your last post this morning . Thank you for sharing all this . I'm gonna get the book of this incredible ( among all the others ) man ( and women ) who fought in these days . 99 years old , now 100 ,and so much life in his eyes and smile . Have a nice day . Wish to Joe Peterburs all the best and more !

Good morning !
Joe is a great guy. Not just because of his service during WWII but because he’s sincere and willing to share his life story with all of us . I personally found it amazing that he started out to be a priest and was in the seminary until WWII broke out and then he joined the army at 18 years old .
Let me know how you like his book.