Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler: Honor Among Enemies
It was five days before Christmas in 1943. Brown, 21, was piloting a B-17 on his first mission. He was ordered to attack a German fighter plane factory. Brown's plane, coined 'Ye Olde Pub,' was put into lead formation near the site and quickly started taking heavy fire.
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100-year-old World War II veteran flies same type of plane he flew in combat missions
David Muir shares the story of World War II veteran Joseph Peterburs and the moment he was cleared for takeoff at the controls of the same type of plane he flew 125 combat missions in.
17 hours ago
David Muir shares emotional reunion between WWII veteran and fighter plane
"World News Tonight" anchor David Muir reported on a remarkable moment as a 100-year-old World War II fighter pilot returned to the skies over McKinleyville, California, taking the controls of the same type of aircraft he flew during combat missions more than seven decades ago. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joe Peterburs, who enlisted in 1942 at the age of 18, took to the air in a P-51 Mustang, the legendary fighter aircraft in which he flew 49 combat missions during World War II. The historic flight was made possible by the nonprofit organization "Rumble Over the Redwoods," dedicated to preserving aviation heritage and inspiring future generations. Peterburs' incredible military service spanned decades. After earning his pilot wings and becoming a second lieutenant, he faced numerous challenges during WWII, including being captured by German forces after an ejection and subsequently escaping. His service continued through the Korean War, where he flew 76 combat missions, and extended into the Vietnam era. He ultimately retired as a colonel in 1969. During the commemorative flight, Peterburs demonstrated that his adventurous spirit hadn't dimmed with age. Observers watched in amazement as the aircraft performed a roll, with the centenarian veteran and his pilot briefly flying upside down, waving from high in the sky. After landing, Peterburs was visibly moved by the experience. "It was a really exhilarating experience and brought back a lot of memories," he told ABC News. The veteran pilot also shared a powerful message for future generations: "To maintain what we have today, you got to do your best. Do your best in whatever you endeavor. And I wish you a lot of luck." The flight served as both a personal milestone for Peterburs and a powerful reminder of what World War II veterans did for our country.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Experts suggest school holidays shake-up
Researchers in the South West have suggested school summer holidays should be shortened, along with lengthening half-terms. A report on tackling post-pandemic education inequalities, which forms part of a project funded by the Nuffield Foundation, said it was time to consider a reform to school calendars. Experts in the report said reducing the six-week summer holiday to four weeks and introducing an extra week to half-term breaks could help tackle "educational divides" which have grown since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department for Education said the academic year was structured to provide plenty of time for holidays and schools had flexibility to plan term dates. Experts said they believed benefits achieved through changing the holiday structure would include balancing out childcare costs for parents and improving the wellbeing of pupils and teachers. The report also said spreading the holidays more evenly across the academic year could prevent "learning loss" - a term experts used to describe difficulties pupils when going back to school after the summer break. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Prof Lee Elliot Major, from the University of Exeter, one of the report's authors, said the structure of the academic year dated back to Victorian times and it was "time to review this". He said: "We need bold ideas and ultimately trying to find ways of levelling that education playing field so all children from all backgrounds can prosper in school." Mother-of-three Helen Eaton, who runs a blog called Cornwall with the Kids, said her family enjoyed the six weeks of summer holidays. However, she said she understood other families had different issues to deal with during the break and some changes to the structure could be beneficial. Ms Eaton said: "I know a lot of people in Cornwall work in the tourism industry, so maybe when it's quieter at Christmas or October, it might benefit people to have an extra week off." She added her children - aged 11, eight and four - had been able to learn things during the holidays and put their skills from school into practice. "Sometimes you can go out and about and the children are actually learning all the time," Ms Eaton said. "They've learned how to paddleboard and fish, and sometimes you do an activity and maths and English come into that." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More on this story Should school summer holidays be shorter? The schools still deciding on two week half term Cost of summer holiday clubs rises to £1,076 a child Related internet links Nuffield Foundation Department for Education
