May 18, 2024

Clarence Emil Bud Anderson

Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson, a triple ace during WW2, received his baptism by fire on February 5th 1944 during his first mission, when he spotted a Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the midst of attacking a wounded B-17 Flying Fortress high over Berlin. Bud shot down the attacking 109 making his first kill on his first mission. His fifth kill occurred over Frankfurt where Bud officially became an ace.

Anderson flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in Europe 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 in his trusty P-51 Mustang named "Old Crow”.

Bud completed over 116 combat missions over Europe in that P-51 Mustang, and never got a single scratch…

When WW2 ended, Bud returned home, and became a well regarded fighter test pilot, and a fighter squadron and wing commander. Bud was not finished there…

Bud then headed off to Korea as Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea, from August 1955 to February 1956 and commander of the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron at Osan, from February to August 1956.

Anderson returned to the States and continued to 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.

In August of 1965, Bud 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.

and in 1969, after serving in WW2, then Korea, Anderson took command of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, an F-105 Thunderchief unit, during its final months of service in the Vietnam War.

Stationed at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Anderson flew strikes in his supersonic F-105 better known as the "Thud" against enemy supply lines until the closing of the base when 355th TFW was inactivated.

Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson finally came back home and retired as a full colonel in 1972.

Bud Anderson retired in March 1972. Having been decorated 25 times for his service to his country, flown over 100 types of aircraft, and logging over 7,000 hours.

January 2022 Bud Anderson turned 100 years old, and his hometown of Auburn honored him with a grand celebration as the very last living American triple flying ace of WWII...

And on December 2, 2022, Bud Anderson was promoted to the honorary rank of brigadier general by Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the Air Force chief of staff at the Aerospace Museum of California.

Sadly, May 17th, 2024, at the age of 102 and 1/2 years which ironically almost reads like a score, Buds final victory over Father Time... famed triple ace fighter pilot, and a true and honoured friend to many, Brigadier General Clarence "Bud" Anderson flew west leaving the aviation world a much smaller place.

Following is a list of Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson's decorations:

Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster

Distinguished Flying Cross with four bronze oak leaf clusters

Bronze Star Medal

Silver oak leaf cluster

Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal

Air Force Presidential Unit Citation

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

American Campaign Medal

Bronze star

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars