The American Heritage Museum, located in Stow, MA, will welcome retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Joe Peterburs, a World War II fighter ace, during its Historic Aviation Weekend on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, 2025. Col. Peterburs is best known for his remarkable achievement on April 10, 1945, when he shot down a German Me 262 jet flown by Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck during an escort mission over Berlin—one of the rare occasions an Allied pilot engaged a jet in combat. During the weekend, Col. Peterburs will share his firsthand wartime experiences, including the famed mission against the Me 262, his broader combat service, and his postwar friendship with Schuck. His presentation, titled “Against the Odds – P-51 Mustang Ace and How He Shot Down a German Me 262 During WWII,” will take place daily from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the museum’s aircraft hangar.
At 101 years old, Col. Peterburs recently returned to the cockpit of a P-51 Mustang, as highlighted in an ABC News special in August 2025. The segment showcased his enduring connection to the aircraft and his lifelong dedication to aviation history. Watch the feature HERE. The Historic Aviation Weekend will also immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of aviation history, featuring flight demonstrations of rare and historic aircraft including the Stinson L-5/OY-1 Sentinel, Fieseler Fi-156 Storch, the Waco UIC that survived Pearl Harbor, an AT-6 Texan advanced trainer, and a newly restored PT-17 Stearman that served with the Tuskegee Airmen. The event includes living history reenactments, expert talks, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to meet veterans and aviation historians, making it a weekend full of engaging experiences for all ages.
Colonel Joe Peterburs enlisted in November 1942 and earned his pilot wings in April 1944. He flew 49 combat missions in the P-51 Mustang during World War II. On April 10, 1945, he successfully engaged a German Me 262 jet fighter, later surviving being shot down himself and evading capture. He continued his military service through the Korean War and Vietnam era, retiring as a colonel in 1969. Learn more at https://joepeterburs.com
The American Heritage Museum, a program of the Collings Foundation, houses the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection, one of the largest private collections of historic tanks, military vehicles, and aircraft in the world. Through immersive exhibits, living history weekends, and dynamic demonstrations, the museum brings history to life for visitors of all ages. For more information on the Historic Aviation Weekend, visit https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org
