BRIGADIER GENERAL CLARENCE E. “BUD” ANDERSON, USAF RETIRED
B/Gen. Anderson is a WWII Triple Ace fighter pilot and a veteran military experimental test pilot.
During WW II he served two combat tours escorting heavy bomber over Europe in the P-51 Mustang, Nov 1943 through Jan 1945. He flew 116 combat mission (480 hrs) and destroyed 16 and 1/4 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and another one on the ground. Bud flew in the 357th Fighter Group “Yoxford Boys” and was the highest scoring ace in the 363rd Fighter Squadron.
He has an extensive flight-testing background spanning a 25-year period. At Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, he was a fighter test pilot and later became Chief of Fighter Operations. He flew many models of the early jet fighters and was involved in two very unusual flight test programs. He made the first flights on a bizarre experimental program to couple jet fighters to the wingtips of a large bomber aircraft for range extension. Later he also conducted the initial development flights on the F-84 Parasite fighter modified to be launched and retrieved from the very large B-36 bomber. At The Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA, B/Gen Anderson was assigned as the Chief Of Flight Test Operations and later Deputy Director of Flight Test. While there he flew the Century series fighters and all the other types of aircraft in the Air Force inventory. He has flown over 130 different types of aircraft and has logged over 7500 flying hours.
Other assignments in his 30 years of continuous military service include duty as: Commander of an F86 Squadron in post war Korea, Commander of an F-105 Wing on Okinawa, and two assignments to the Pentagon as an advanced R & D staff planner and as Director of Operational Requirements. Further, he served in Southeast Asia where he was Commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing. B/Gen Anderson flew bombing strikes against enemy supply lines and later was in charge of closing the first large air base when his combat wing was deactivated. B/Gen Anderson was decorated 25 times. His awards include 2 Legion of Merits, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals, the French Legion of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre, as well as many campaign and service ribbons.
He learned to fly at age 19 gaining his private pilot’s license in 1941 through the Civilian Pilot Training Program while attending college. In Jan 1942 he entered the US Army Aviation Cadet Program receiving his wings and commission in Sept 1942. He received his test pilot training by completing the AMC Performance Course (1948) and the Stability and Control Course (1949) while at Wright-Patterson AFB OH.
Born in Oakland CA, he spent his early years on a rural farm near Newcastle CA. He attended Placer Union High School, Sacramento Jr College and the George Washington University. Military education includes the Air Command and Staff College and the Army War College. He is a life member of the American Fighter Aces Association and holds the rank of Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
He was married to the former Eleanor Cosby of Auburn, CA; they were married almost 70 years. She passed away in January 2015. They have two children, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. After retirement from the Air Force in March, 1972, he joined the McDonnell Aircraft Company and served for 12 years at Edwards AFB as Manager of the Company Flight Test Facility.
After full retirement in 1984, the Andersons moved from Lancaster and now reside in Auburn CA. In 1990, B/Gen Anderson wrote an autobiography with another author which has been described by The Historian Of The Air Force as “the finest pilot memories of WW II”. In this book titled “TO FLY AND FIGHT’ Gen. Chuck Yeager describes Anderson as ” a mongoose, .. the best fighter pilot I’ve ever seen”. When Bud reached 90 years, he voluntarily quit flying but remains an avid supporter of aviation. He lectures on his flying experiences, has consulted on computer flying games, participates in written and online interviews and writes articles for aviation periodicals. Featured in the History Channel “Dog Fight” series and the Military Channel “Showdown: Air Combat.” Bud was honored to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008, inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2013, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 with all the American Fighter Aces, was awarded the Air Force Association Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2017 and was inducted into the EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame on 8 November 2017.
Bud turned 100 on January 13, 2022 and is the highest scoring living US Fighter Ace and the only surviving US Triple Ace. There are now only 12 living US Fighter Aces out of 1,447 recognized US Fighter Aces.
On 2 Dec, 2022, Bud was given an honorary promotion to Brigadier General at the Aerospace Museum of California. Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Charles Brown presided over the ceremony and pinned the rank on Bud.
On 17 May 2024 at 5:29pm, at the age of 102, WWII Triple Ace Brigadier General Clarence E “Bud” Anderson passed away in his home peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family.
The Digital Collection of the National WWII Museum – Clarence “Bud” Anderson
