World War II Honoree

Harlan R. Petersburg

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honored By

Dr. & Mrs. Brian J. Petersburg

Relationship

Son & Daughter-in-law

1942, ORIGINATED THE IDEA FOR THE FORMATION OF A BRANCH OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. SUGGESTED THE IDEA TO HIS AVIATION SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR LIEUTENANT SCHADEGG. PROPOSAL APPROVED BY MAJOR REED, WING COMMANDER FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND SENT TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND APPROVED. THEN PLACED IN CHARGE OF WRITING THE BY-LAWS AND DESIGNED THE INSIGNIA FOR THE PATCH. OCTOBER 14, 1942 THE CIVIL AIR PATROL CADETS, SQUADRON 711-4 WAS OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. WAS COMMISSIONED AS THE FIRST COMMANDER OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL CADETS. JULY 1943, ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS AS 2ND LIEUTENANT. DURING THE WAR, HE WAS A NAVIGATOR ON A B-24 IN THE FIFTH AIR FORCE, 380TH BOMB GROUP 'FLYING CIRCUS', 528TH SQUADRON IN THE PACIFIC THEATER INCLUDING NEW GUINEA, OKINAWA AND THE PHILIPPINES. DISCHARGED IN JANUARY 1946 AS 1ST LIEUTENANT.