World War II Honoree

Noble E. Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New England, North Dakota

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

AFTER PEARL HARBOR WAS BOMBED, HE RE-ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TANK CORPS AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY WHERE HE WAS TESTED TO BECOME A PILOT. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1942, HE BECAME A CADET IN THE AIR FORCE AT NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. AFTER TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 258TH SQUADRON OF THE 255TH FIGHTER GROUP. HE LEFT THE U.S. JANUARY 18, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND JANUARY 26, 1944. HE HAD TWO TOURS OF DUTY OVERSEAS. HE CAME HOME IN AUGUST 1944 AND RETURNED TO ENGLAND OCTOBER 12, 1944; COMING HOME AGAIN MAY 19, 1945. HE FLEW 106 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY AMASSING OVER 500 HOURS OF COMBAT TIME. HE ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN AIR BATTLES OFF EUROPE, NORTHERN FRANCE, CENTRAL EUROPE, NORMANDY, RHINELAND AND ARDENNES. HE WAS AWARDED THE UNIT CITATION BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL DOOLITTLE, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 9 CLUSTERS AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH 2 CLUSTERS BY MAJOR GENERAL KEPNER. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 10, 1945 AT SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.