World War II Honoree

John Leonard Peterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ironwood, Michigan

Honored By

Kathleen, Gary, Kurt & Jackie Peterson

Relationship

Wife & Children

'JACK' ENLISTED ON JUNE 2, 1942 IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE CADET PROGRAM. CALLED FOR ACTIVE DUTY IN JANUARY 1943 AND BEGAN BASIC TRAINING ON FEBRUARY 19, 1943, THEN TRAINED AS A PILOT. SERVED AS A RECONNAISSANCE PILOT WITH THE 9TH AIR FORCE, P-38 LIGHTENING, 30TH PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON. JOINED HIS UNIT IN BELGIUM IN SEPTEMBER 1944 AND FLEW 48 MISSIONS. DUBBED 'PECK'S BAD BOYS' IN DEFERENCE TO THEIR GROUP COMMANDER, COLONEL GEORGE W. PECK OF DETROIT, THESE 9TH AIR FORCE P-38 LIGHTENING PILOTS FLEW 2-3 HOUR MISSIONS OVER HITLER'S WESTWALL ALONE AND WITHOUT PROTECTION TO PHOTOGRAPH EVERY SQUARE MILE AND REVEAL GERMAN DEFENSE ACTIVITY AND ALLIED BOMB DAMAGE. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.