With the death of Brigadier General Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, the aviation world has lost one of its most popular, well-respected senior figures whose remarkable career spanned four decades and marked indelible impressions on military aviation history. He died peacefully in his sleep on May 17, 2024, in his home in Auburn, California, at the age of 102, being the last triple ace of World War II.
With the death of Brigadier General Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, the aviation world has lost one of its most popular, well-respected senior figures whose remarkable career spanned four decades and marked indelible impressions on military aviation history. He died peacefully in his sleep on May 17, 2024, in his home in Auburn, California, at the age of 102, being the last triple ace of World War II.
Born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, California, Anderson started flying at age 19 under the auspices of the Civilian Pilot Training Program. After Pearl Harbor, he entered active service as an aviation cadet and was subsequently sent overseas to England, where he joined the 357th Fighter Group.
Anderson quickly proved himself an above-average pilot. He completed 116 combat missions in the famed P-51 Mustang named “Old Crow,” the namesake of his favorite bourbon and whiskey, for 480 hours in the air. His 16 confirmed air-to-air kills earned him the reputation of a “triple ace”; he was the highest-scoring pilot in the 363rd Fighter Squadron. As my fellow pilot, the great Chuck Yeager, once said, “In the sky, those damned Germans must’ve thought they were up against Frankenstein or the Wolfman.”
Immediately after World War II, Anderson’s career seemed to continue going from strength to strength. Becoming a test pilot, he extended the edge of aviation by flying over 130 different aircraft and taking part in many experimental projects, including the “parasite” fighter concept, in which a Republic F-84 was attached to a Convair B-36 bomber. His expertise extended into the jet age, flying some of the first Mach 2 jet fighters.
In Vietnam, Anderson flew missions against North Vietnamese supply lines as the commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. His leadership and bravery earned him a slew of accolades: five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre.
Anderson retired from the military in 1972 as a colonel but didn’t give up on aviation quite yet. He ran flight test operations at Edwards Air Force Base for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft until his retirement in 1998, overseeing such projects as the F-15 Eagle and the F/A-18 Hornet. All the while, his love of flying never faded, and he continued to fly well into his 90s.
Anderson was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008, and he received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 for his incredible contribution. Just recently, in 2022, the Air Force post-promoted him to the rank of brigadier general.
“Bud’s kind of a wrecking ball of a guy, and I think for many of us, probably wouldn’t want to have him behind us shooting us down, he had a distinguished career,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., while reflecting upon Anderson’s legacy.
As we bid farewell to Brigadier General Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, there comes to mind a certain life that was committed to courage, skill, and devotion to one’s country life that will be long remembered within the annals of aviation.
Born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, California, Anderson started flying at age 19 under the auspices of the Civilian Pilot Training Program. After Pearl Harbor, he entered active service as an aviation cadet and was subsequently sent overseas to England, where he joined the 357th Fighter Group.
Anderson quickly proved himself an above-average pilot. He completed 116 combat missions in the famed P-51 Mustang named “Old Crow,” the namesake of his favorite bourbon and whiskey, for 480 hours in the air. His 16 confirmed air-to-air kills earned him the reputation of a “triple ace”; he was the highest-scoring pilot in the 363rd Fighter Squadron. As my fellow pilot, the great Chuck Yeager, once said, “In the sky, those damned Germans must’ve thought they were up against Frankenstein or the Wolfman.”
Immediately after World War II, Anderson’s career seemed to continue going from strength to strength. Becoming a test pilot, he extended the edge of aviation by flying over 130 different aircraft and taking part in many experimental projects, including the “parasite” fighter concept, in which a Republic F-84 was attached to a Convair B-36 bomber. His expertise extended into the jet age, flying some of the first Mach 2 jet fighters.
In Vietnam, Anderson flew missions against North Vietnamese supply lines as the commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. His leadership and bravery earned him a slew of accolades: five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre.
Anderson retired from the military in 1972 as a colonel but didn’t give up on aviation quite yet. He ran flight test operations at Edwards Air Force Base for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft until his retirement in 1998, overseeing such projects as the F-15 Eagle and the F/A-18 Hornet. All the while, his love of flying never faded, and he continued to fly well into his 90s.
Anderson was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008, and he received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 for his incredible contribution. Just recently, in 2022, the Air Force post-promoted him to the rank of brigadier general.
“Bud’s kind of a wrecking ball of a guy, and I think for many of us, probably wouldn’t want to have him behind us shooting us down, he had a distinguished career,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., while reflecting upon Anderson’s legacy.
As we bid farewell to Brigadier General Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, there comes to mind a certain life that was committed to courage, skill, and devotion to one’s country life that will be long remembered within the annals of aviation.