Bud Anderson

Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson (January 13, 1922 – May 17, 2024) was 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.

On December 2, 2022, 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 Oklahoma.

Anderson died in his sleep on May 17, 2024, aged 102, at his home in Auburn, California.

References

Category:1922 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:Military people from California
Category:United States Air Force
Category:People from Oakland, California
Category:American aviators
Category:American centenarians
Category:American military personnel of World War II
Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients