“Flying was Fun”: WWII Triple Ace “Bud” Anderson
As can be seen by the smile on his face, Bud Anderson was never happier than when in the cockpit.
If the airplane could be said to have been invented for any one person in particular, that would be none other than the last surviving U.S. triple ace (d. May 17, 2024), Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson. The famous ace was decorated twenty-five times. He also logged over 7,500 flying hours, the remarkable equivalent of 312.5 days.
Anderson (also called “Andy”) was born in California in January of 1922. As a boy, he was fascinated with planes. He recalled the many times he would come running excitedly from his house to see the aircraft he heard flying overhead. In high school, Anderson played football and basketball. Like most teenaged boys, he was also interested in cars, though planes would remain his first love.
On his twentieth birthday, Anderson enthusiastically joined the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Program. After learning to fly, he was transported to Europe, where he joined the 357th Fighter Group. This young pilot would go on to destroy 16 ¼ enemy aircraft, and fly a total of 480 hours of combat missions during the second world war. A competent pilot with excellent eyesight, he shortly became a triple ace and rose to the rank of colonel.
Eleanor and Bud Anderson.
In 1945, Anderson married his sweetheart, Eleanor Cosby. The couple had two children, Jim and Kitty.
But even following the war, it was hard to keep him out of the cockpit. Aside from “flying a desk” at the Pentagon, Anderson became a test pilot, and took part in the Vietnam War as a wing commander. His thirty years in the service gave him the opportunity to fly over 130 different types of aircraft. However, the one plane with which he will always be associated is the Old Crow, christened after a brand of bourbon. Anderson flew several versions of Old Crow, most notably a P-51 Mustang.
One version of Old Crow.
Anderson retired from the service in 1972. Subsequently, he wrote a humorous, personable book about his experiences as a fighter- and test- pilot. To Fly and Fight was first published in 1990, and has since been granted high reviews.
Late in 2022, Bud Anderson was promoted to the honorary rank of brigadier general. During the ceremony in California, the pilot proudly wore his Air Force dress blues. On May 17, 2024, Anderson passed away in his sleep at the age of 102 years old. His love for flying remained strong till the very end. He maintained the belief that the 1940s era was a wonderful one. Our Greatest Generation proudly salutes this American hero. And now, sadly we must also honor him with Taps.
We were able to obtain (via e-mail) the following exclusive interview with the ace, through his son, Jim Anderson.
Q: What did you most enjoy about flying?
ANDERSON: It was exciting and fun!
Q: What was the most helpful piece of flying apparel or equipment you wore?
ANDERSON: During WWII in the P-51, warm clothes. It was very cold at high altitude.
Q: And the most cumbersome piece of equipment?
ANDERSON: The Oxygen mask. Although keeping you alive, it was cumbersome to wear.
Q: Did you have a particular style of flying compared to that of others you knew?
ANDERSON: I have very good eye sight and could spot other airplanes better than others.
Q: What sort of entertainment were you pilots given?
ANDERSON: Drinking and having fun with the other pilots in the Officer’s Club. And passes letting us travel from the base, so we could go into London.
Q: Did the thought of death cross your mind every time you got in the cockpit?
ANDERSON: We were all afraid before we started flying combat. After many successful missions, you did not worry about it as much.
Q: What do you consider the common qualities and character traits of all airmen?
ANDERSON: Flexibility, good judgment, cool under pressure!
Q: In your opinion, what was the greatest contribution the Army Air Force of the 1940s gave to the war effort?
ANDERSON: It saved the air war by the bombers over Europe, which allowed the D-Day Invasion.
Q: Explain the differences or similarities between pilots in real life as opposed to how they are portrayed in the movies.
ANDERSON: Hollywood has to make movies entertaining, so it must portray things in an entertaining way from real life. Flying is exciting anyway, without the Hollywood magic!
Q: What are your fondest memories of the 1940s?
ANDERSON: Our country was united against a common enemy! Good music! Life was much simpler!
Q: Is there anything else which you would like to share?
ANDERSON: Live your Dreams! Find out what you are good at and like to do, and pursue it!
Anderson in 2022.
For more information about Bud Anderson, please be sure to visit toflyandfight.com.
Photograph credits—ELEANOR AND BUD, BUD WITH DOG: warbirds-eaa.org; all other photographs courtesy of Jim Anderson, toflyandfight.
One of the things which made the American soldier identifiable was his hair. During World War II, Army regulations briskly commanded the men, “Keep your hair cut short.”