LT. COL. KREBS RETIRES

The Flying Badger: By Sgt. James E. Schuler, June 1971

After 28 years as a commissioned officer, Lt. Col. Joseph M. Krebs, retired after the May UTA. He joined the Wing in 1962 and last served as Base Operations Officer.

Colonel Krebs will long be remembered for his quick smile and eagerness to be friendly, be it to a top ranking officer or lowest ranking airman.

He joined the Army Air Corps in September, 1941 and served as an aviation mechanic and flight line chief before being selected for pilot training. He graduated a lieutenant in May, 1943.

After flying P-39 Aircobras, he was assigned to the Ninth Air Force in England, where he flew P-51 Mustangs on long range bomber escorts. On Feb. 8, 1944, he was forced to bail out of his crippled aircraft over German-held territory and was imprisoned for the remainder of the war.

After the German surrender, he was sent to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where he served as a bomber test pilot until May, 1951 when he went on Reserve status.

In civilian life he is a pilot for Evinrude Division of Outboard Marine Corp. He lives in Hales Corners with his wife, Rosemary, who is also a pilot. They have three sons and two daughters.

A Milwaukee native, he returned to the city and joined the Air National Guard as a fighter pilot in 1954. He transferred to the 440th in 1962 and has since served as director of safety operations officer and aircraft commander.


Lt. Col. Joseph M. Krebs