Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson (born January 13, 1922) is a retired officer in the United States Air Force, a triple ace of World War II, and the highest scoring living American fighter ace. During the war he was the highest scoring flying ace in his P-51 Mustang squadron. Towards the end of Anderson's two combat tours in Europe in 1944 he was promoted to major at 22, a young age even for a highly effective officer in wartime. After the war Anderson became a well regarded fighter test pilot, and a fighter squadron and wing commander. He served his wing commander tour in combat in the Vietnam War. He retired as a full colonel in 1972, after which he worked in flight test management for McDonnell Douglas. A member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Anderson has remained a sought-after speaker at aviation and military events well into his 90s.
Anderson onboard his P-51D-10-NA Mustang 'Old Crow'The top scoring fighter aces of the 357th Fighter Group. L-R; Richard Peterson, Leonard Carson, John England, and Clarence Anderson.
The 357th Fighter Group was stationed at RAF Leiston, and the group was equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang in January 1944. Anderson flew his first mission on February 5, 1944. On March 3, 1944, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that was attacking a straggling B-17 Flying Fortress northwest of Hanover, his first aerial victory. On April 11, he shot down another Bf 109, his second aerial victory. On the same mission, he and two other members of his flight took turns in shooting down a Heinkel He 111 heavy bomber that was landing at an airfield in Hannover, resulting in the bomber to crash, crediting the three of them with the shared aerial victory. Anderson continued to score aerial victories until he shot down a Bf 109 over Frankfurt on May 12, 1944, his fifth aerial victory, thus making him a flying ace. Before the end of May 1944, he destroyed three more enemy aircraft.[6][7][8]
On June 29, 1944, Anderson led his fighter squadron on a bomber escort over Leipzig. Over the target, the squadron encountered eight Focke-Wulf Fw 190s attempting to attack the bomber formation. Anderson led his squadron against the enemy aircraft and shot down the lead Fw 190. In the subsequent dogfight, Anderson shot down two more Fw 190s, bringing his total to three Fw 190s destroyed in the mission. In July 1944, after scoring his twelfth aerial victory, he took leave and returned to the United States.[6][9][8][10]
In Fall 1944, he returned to 357th FG and on November 27, 1944, he shot down two Fw 190s over Magdeburg and forced another to crash land as he attempted to shoot it, crediting him with two aerial victories and one probable in the mission. On December 5, 1944 while leading a fighter escort of bombers over Berlin, the escort was attacked by a formation of 20 Fw 190s and in the dogfight, Anderson shot down two Fw 190s, his final aerial victories.[11]
Anderson flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in Europe while with the 363d Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, based at RAF Leiston, England, and was the group's third leading ace with 16+1⁄4 aerial victories.[8] The others only flew one tour so they had less time in the air. His first P-51 Mustang (P-51B-15-NA AAF Ser. No. 43-24823) and his second (P-51D-10-NA Mustang, AAF Ser. No. 44-14450 B6-S), both nicknamed Old Crow[12] (after the whiskey of the same name), carried him safely through 116 missions without being hit by fire from enemy aircraft and without Anderson ever having to turn back for any reason.[13]
Post war
Anderson as a test pilot at Edwards AFB
Anderson returned to the U.S. in January 1945, serving at Perrin Field, Texas, until October 1945, when he was assigned as a recruiter in Ohio. Anderson served as a test pilot at Wright Field from May 1948 to February 1953. During this time, he took part in the FICON project, a concept to increase the effective combat radius of jet fighters by attaching them to a propeller-driven bomber, one hooked up to each wingtip. The hope was that it would not only increase fuel efficiency and effective range, but also allow the bomber to carry its own fighter escort deep into enemy territory.[5][14][15]
Anderson continued serve as test pilot and was assigned as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division at Edwards Air Force Base from November 1957 to August 1962. He attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, from August 1962 to July 1963. From August 1965 to December 1967, he was stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa where he served as deputy director, director of operations and commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing.[5][10]
Anderson retired as a colonel in March 1972. He was decorated 25 times for his service to the United States. During his career, he flew over 100 types of aircraft and logged over 7,000 hours. Anderson was a close friend of Brigadier General Chuck Yeager during the end of World War II, where both served in the 357th Fighter Group.[17]
Personal life and retirement
Bud Anderson as he appeared in 2011. Anderson is seated second from the right, in the white cap. This picture was taken at EAA AirVenture 2011, as Anderson tells a large crowd his war stories. He sits next to a P-51 Mustang painted in his World War II colors.Chief of Staff of the United States Air ForceCharles Q. Brown Jr. administers the reaffirmation of the oath of office to Anderson, after promoting him to the honorary rank of brigadier general (2022)
Anderson married Eleanor Cosby, on February 23, 1945. She died on January 30, 2015, in Auburn, California, just four days before her 92nd birthday.[18]
After his retirement from active duty as a colonel, he became the manager of the McDonnell Aircraft Company's Flight Test Facility at Edwards AFB, serving there until 1998.[19]
In 1990, Anderson co-authored the book To Fly & Fight—Memoirs of a Triple Ace.[20]
He turned 100 in January 2022.[23][24] Anderson's hometown Auburn honored him with a grand celebration.[25] He is the last living American triple flying ace of WWII.[26][27]
Anderson, Colonel Clarence "Bud" with Joseph P. Hamelin. To Fly and Fight, Memoirs of a Triple Ace, Pacifica Military History, Library of Congress. ISBN0-935553-34-7
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↑ Anderson, Jim (7 August 2017). To Fly and Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace Paperback – August 7, 2017. Author Solutions Incorporated. ISBN978-1543414714.
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