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This weekend, we had the privilege of meeting Col. (Ret.) Joseph "Joe" Peterburs, a WWII fighter pilot who flew with the 55th Fighter Squadron under the 20th Fighter Groupjust like our own demo and support pilots today.

At just 19, he flew the P-51 Mustang on escort missions over Europe. On his 49th and final combat sortie, he engaged enemy fighters, scoring a victory before his aircraft was damaged. Forced to bail out over Germany, he was capturedbut that didn't stop him. Under the cover of night, he escaped from a POW camp, eventually making his way back to Allied forces.

His story of resilience and service is a powerful reminder of the legacy we carry forward. Thank you, sir, for sharing your time and wisdom with the team!

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