Bud Anderson dies at 102
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Bud Anderson RIP
https://taskandpurpose.com/history/b...-world-war-ii/
A life well lived .One of the last masters of the air has died. Brig. Gen. Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson, credited with downing 16 enemy planes over Europe in World War II, died this past week at his home in Auburn, California. He was 102.
“On 17 May 2024 at 5:29pm, WWII Triple Ace Brigadier General Clarence E “Bud” Anderson passed away in his home peacefully in his sleep surround [sic] by his family. We were blessed to have him as our father,” his children wrote in an announcement posted on Anderson’s website. “Dad lived an amazing life and was loved by many. He was 102! Thank you for all your kind comments and messages.”
Anderson’s aerial victories during World War II gave him the rare “triple ace” status, but his career in the military extends beyond those battles in the sky.
Born Jan. 13, 1922 in Oakland, California, Anderson grew up playing sports in the Bay Area. Before he joined the U.S. military he was already a licensed pilot, having earned his pilot’s license while in college at the age of 19. Shortly after the U.S. entered World War II, Anderson enlisted in January 1942. A few months later he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He stayed stateside for more than a year, piloting a Bell P-39. He finally went overseas to England in late 1943.
Assigned to the 357th Fighter Group, Anderson began flying bomber escort missions, piloting a series of P-51 Mustangs, each named “Old Crow” — after the bourbon whiskey. In the first five months of 1944, he shot down five German planes, earning him “ace” status. He rose through the ranks, serving two combat tours. By the end of 1944 he’d reached triple ace status, won several dog fights and by the end of the war flew 116 missions.
A life well lived .One of the last masters of the air has died. Brig. Gen. Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson, credited with downing 16 enemy planes over Europe in World War II, died this past week at his home in Auburn, California. He was 102.
“On 17 May 2024 at 5:29pm, WWII Triple Ace Brigadier General Clarence E “Bud” Anderson passed away in his home peacefully in his sleep surround [sic] by his family. We were blessed to have him as our father,” his children wrote in an announcement posted on Anderson’s website. “Dad lived an amazing life and was loved by many. He was 102! Thank you for all your kind comments and messages.”
Anderson’s aerial victories during World War II gave him the rare “triple ace” status, but his career in the military extends beyond those battles in the sky.
Born Jan. 13, 1922 in Oakland, California, Anderson grew up playing sports in the Bay Area. Before he joined the U.S. military he was already a licensed pilot, having earned his pilot’s license while in college at the age of 19. Shortly after the U.S. entered World War II, Anderson enlisted in January 1942. A few months later he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He stayed stateside for more than a year, piloting a Bell P-39. He finally went overseas to England in late 1943.
Assigned to the 357th Fighter Group, Anderson began flying bomber escort missions, piloting a series of P-51 Mustangs, each named “Old Crow” — after the bourbon whiskey. In the first five months of 1944, he shot down five German planes, earning him “ace” status. He rose through the ranks, serving two combat tours. By the end of 1944 he’d reached triple ace status, won several dog fights and by the end of the war flew 116 missions.
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