Glenn Flickinger and Scott Masters welcome a large group of World War II veterans to share memories of V-E Day, Victory in Europe, on May 8, 1945. The veterans include George Rubin, Joe Peterburs, Brenda Reid, and Mary Owen.
George Rubin served as a B-17 waist gunner in the U.S. 8th Air Force, 486th Bomb Group, 835th Squadron. After graduating high school in 1943, he was drafted and initially trained as a pilot before being reassigned to a bomber crew in England. Between late 1944 and early 1945, Rubin flew 18 bombing missions over Germany. On February 25, 1945, during a mission over Munich, his aircraft sustained severe flak damage, losing two engines and suffering 270 holes. Despite his leg injury, Rubin jettisoned the bombs safely to avoid civilian casualties, ensuring they wouldn’t detonate upon impact. The crew crash-landed near Sonthofen, Germany, where they were captured by Hitler Youth members and faced potential execution, which was averted by a German officer. Rubin was subsequently imprisoned at Dulag Luft and later transferred to Stalag 13D and then Stalag 7A, enduring forced marches and harsh conditions until liberation by General Patton’s forces on April 30, 1945 .
After returning to the U.S., Rubin served at Fort Dix, assisting in the repatriation of POWs. He struggled with PTSD for decades, seeking treatment in his 90s. A visit to the crash site in Sonthofen provided some closure. Rubin embraced Quakerism and pacifism, becoming active in peace advocacy and sharing his experiences to highlight the horrors of war.He continues to attend weekly PTSD support groups, offering insights to veterans from subsequent conflicts.
Colonel Joe Peterburs was a distinguished World War II fighter pilot whose service exemplified courage and resilience. Born in 1924, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and trained on aircraft like the P-40 Warhawk before transitioning to the P-51 Mustang. Deployed to England in late 1944, Peterburs flew 49 combat missions, primarily escorting B-17 bombers over Europe.
On April 10, 1945, during his 49th mission, Peterburs engaged and damaged a German Me 262 jet fighter piloted by renowned ace Walter Schuck, forcing Schuck to bail out. Subsequently, Peterburs’s aircraft was hit by ground fire while strafing a German airfield, compelling him to bail out near Magdeburg, Germany. Captured by German forces, he was held as a prisoner of war at Stalag XI-A. As the war neared its end, Peterburs escaped captivity, joined a Russian tank unit, and eventually reunited with American forces near Wittenberg on the Elbe River .
After World War II, Peterburs continued his military career, serving in the Korean War, where he flew 76 combat missions in the P-51D Mustang and sustained injuries from enemy fire. In the Vietnam War, he served as a Staff Operations Officer and survived a Viet Cong rocket attack during the Tet Offensive. He retired in 1979 after over 36 years of service, having earned numerous decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters.
Decades later, Peterburs reconnected with Walter Schuck, the German pilot he had downed in 1945. Their meeting evolved into a friendship, symbolizing reconciliation and the enduring human spirit beyond the adversities of war.
On May 8, 1945—Victory in Europe (V-E) Day—Americans across the United States and overseas greeted the news of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender with a mix of jubilation, relief, and solemn reflection. After nearly four years of war following Pearl Harbor, the end of combat in Europe signaled a long-awaited milestone. Spontaneous celebrations erupted in major cities such as New York, Washington, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Crowds gathered in the streets, waving flags, singing, and cheering. Churches held services of thanksgiving, while factories paused work for impromptu assemblies. In Times Square, thousands poured in shoulder to shoulder, and in Washington, D.C., crowds assembled near the White House, where President Harry S. Truman—who had taken office only weeks earlier after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt—dedicated the victory to his predecessor, calling it “a solemn but glorious hour.”
Yet the national mood was not one of unrestrained elation. For many, the joy was tempered by the cost of victory—more than 400,000 American lives lost in the war—and the knowledge that the fighting in the Pacific continued. Families who had lost loved ones marked the day in private, with quiet remembrance rather than public celebration. Newspapers struck a somber tone alongside celebratory headlines, reminding readers of the ongoing war against Japan.
Among U.S. military personnel, reactions varied widely depending on their circumstances. Soldiers still in combat zones in Europe, especially those in the front lines in Germany, were often too exhausted or cautious to immediately celebrate. Some received the news with disbelief or numb detachment after enduring months of intense combat. Others managed subdued toasts or brief gatherings. In rear areas, however, troops threw more animated celebrations, raising makeshift toasts, staging impromptu parades, and letting off steam with singing and dancing. For many, the primary emotion was a profound sense of relief—they had survived the European theater.
American service members in the Pacific, by contrast, received the news with little fanfare. Their war was far from over. Preparations were already underway for the invasion of Okinawa, and the prospect of a bloody ground assault on Japan loomed ahead. While they welcomed Germany’s defeat, Pacific troops knew it did not mean homecoming—at least not yet.
Overall, V-E Day marked a moment of deep national significance. It united Americans in pride and gratitude, even as the shadow of continued conflict muted the full joy of peace. For those in uniform, it meant an end to one campaign and, for many, the start of another.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!
