The Story of Triple Ace “Bud” Anderson, Lived to 102 Years Old, Who Downed 16 Enemy Planes in WWII

Early Life and Rise to the Skies

Clarence “Bud” Anderson was born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, California, and grew up near Newcastle. As a teenager, he earned his pilot’s license through a civilian flying program in 1941. He joined the Army Air Forces in January 1942 and earned his wings by the end of that year. Anderson trained on the P‑39 Airacobra before being assigned to the 357th Fighter Group, which became the first U.S. Eighth Air Force unit to use the P‑51 Mustang.

By early 1944, Anderson was flying P‑51 Mustangs nicknamed Old Crow, a name that referred to his preferred bourbon. He flew 116 missions and accumulated 480 hours of combat time between November 1943 and January 1945. On February 5, he flew his first sortie, and within weeks he scored his first aerial victory over a German fighter.

Combat in Europe

In June 1944, he downed three German fighters in a single mission over Leipzig, making him a triple ace by that time. By war’s end, he had 16¼ confirmed victories, including a shared quarter kill, making him one of the highest aces in his unit. He stayed with bomber escort flights, protecting U.S. bombers deep into German territory.

Respect from Peers and Post-War Career

His skill earned admiration from fellow pilots, including Chuck Yeager, who described Anderson as precise in combat and unfailingly kind on the ground. Squadron members said that enemy pilots likely feared him as he “hammered them into the ground.” His plane Old Crow was never hit by enemy fire, and his success was credited to both his talent and a dedicated ground crew.

After World War II, Anderson became a military test pilot. He flew more than 130 different aircraft and logged over 7,500 flight hours. He tested early jet fighters and played a role in experiments like launching fighters from bomber aircraft. He served in Korea and later led the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing in Vietnam, flying 25 missions over North Vietnamese supply routes.

Life Beyond Service

Anderson retired as a colonel in 1972 and received an honorary promotion to brigadier general in 2022. He then joined McDonnell Douglas’s flight test division at Edwards Air Force Base, managing test operations until 1998. He was widely honored, earning two Legion of Merit awards, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, one Bronze Star, sixteen Air Medals, and French decorations.

He co‑wrote an autobiography titled To Fly and Fight, and his personal flight gear is displayed at America’s Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. He remained active in the aviation community, appearing at airshows into his nineties.