WWII Triple Ace CE Bud Anderson Encounter Reports - Bud Anderson: To Fly and Fight

WWII Triple Ace CE Bud Anderson is now 102 and due to age limitations can no longer sign books, photos, or other items. We have a limited stock of signed items remaining in the store. When these signed items are gone, we will continue to offer unsigned books and photos. If you are interested in items signed by Bud, please take advantage of the remaining signed inventory. Thank you!

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WWII Triple Ace CE ‘Bud’ Anderson Encounter Reports

Bud with Crew Chief Otto Heino (L) and Armorer Leon Zimmerman (R)

Bud’s first confirmed victory, 8 March 1944. P-51B, 43-12315 (Bud’s second P-51B, lost with Lt Carter Jones 22 Mar 1944.) Wingman Lt Eddie Simpson. This was a high angle gun attack by Bud on the ME-109.

Lt Eddie Simpson

Bud’s Second Victory and a Quarter Kill, 11 April 1944. P-51B, 43-24823. Bud and his flight engage several Me-109s in front of the bomber stream and then take the fight down to low altitude. Bud claims one damaged Me-109. He spots a shadow and reforms his flight to investigate the shadow. Bud spots a He-111K and everyone shares in shooting it down. They then climb back toward the bombers and engage more Me-109s and Bud shoots down one of them.

(L-R) Lt Bill Overstreet, Lt Kayser, Bud Anderson and Lt Eddie Simpson discuss their quarter kill on the He-111K with 363rd FS Intel Officer Captain Ed DeNigris.

Bud’s first Fw-190 Victory, 30 April 1944. P-51B, 43-24823. Wingman Lt Eddie Simpson

Lt Eddie Simpson with his P-51B "All Away II" 43-6393, B6-P Named for a horse back home.

Bud’s second Fw-190 victory, 8 May 1944. P-51B 43-24823. Wingman Lt Joe Pierce (Joe reported MIA 22 May 44)

Captain Joe Pierce 363rd FS Ace with 7 Victories. KIA 21 May 1944

Bud bcomes an Ace with another victory over an Me-109, 12 May 1944. P-51B 43-24823. Wingman Lt Joe Pierce.

Lt Joe Pierce and Crew Chief Woods

27 May 1944, Bud scores victories over 2 Me-109s. P-51B 43-24823. This is Bud’s Vertical Dogfight mission! Wingman Lt John Skara.

Lt John Skara in the cockpit of his P-51B "Doodle Bug." John flew many missions as Bud's first tour wingman.

Bud added one more Me-109 to his Victories on 30 May 1944. P-51B 43-24823. Wingman Lt Charles Pearson, who flew P-51B Kalamazoo Kid.

Lt Charles Pearson

Bud with Crew Chief Otto Heino (L) and Armorer Leon Zimmerman (R)

Bud added 3 Fw-190s to his Victory list on 29 June 1944. P-51B 43-24823. Wingman Lt John Skara

Note 6 June 1944 D-Day mission, 6 hours and 55 minutes. (Bud's longest mission) He also flew a P-51D on 8 June 1944.

Lt John Skara on the wing of his P-51B "Doodle Bug." Tail number 42-106458, B6-Z.

Bud added one more Me-109 to his Victory list at the end of his first combat tour on 7 July 1944 P-51B 43-24823. This victory was verified by Captain Don Bochkay. Bud’s P-51B Old Crow went to Lt Bill Overstreet and became Berlin Express. Bud ended his first tour with 12 1/4 confirmed Victories and two damaged.

Capt. Donald H. Bochkay 363rd FS Picture is Don with his first P-51B “Alice in Wonderland” lost 8 March 44 with Lt "Stubby" Gambill. Total 13.83/0/1

On 27 November 1944, Bud scored the first victories in his P-51D Mustang, 2 Fw-190s. P-51D 44-14450. Wingman Lt Raymond Wolf, who also scored a victory on a Fw-190. Lt Wolf flew P-51D Superwolf.

Bud scored the last of his WWII Victories on 5 December 1944, just west of Berlin. He shot down 2 Fw-190s and claimed one probable. Notice the mention of the new K-14 gunsight. P-41D 44-14450. Wingman Lt Jim Sloan, who flew P-51D Q-Pee. Lt Sloan went down in Q-Pee on 14 Jan 1945 and became a POW. Bud completed two tours during WWII and shot down 16 1/4 German Aircraft, 2 Probables and 2 Damaged.

363rd FS pilots in from of P-51B Old Crow. (L-R standing) Jim Sloan, John Stern, Keehn Landis and Robert Fifield. Kneeling unknown (R) Norbert Fisher

Additonal Bud Anderson Logbook Pages reflecting his first P-51B Flight, 19 December, 1943 and last P-51D flight during WWII, 15 January, 1945. Also note the flights in the Miles Master and Spitfire at the RAF Gunnery School.

Bud's first flight in a P-51 - 19 December 1943 30 minute flight in a Miles Master at the RAF Gunnery School.

Miles Master

Reflects a Spitfire Flight and another flight in the Miles Master at the RAF Gunnery School.

Spitfire Mk-1

Bud's first combat mission with the 354th FG on 8 Feb 1944. He had a little over 42 hours in the Mustang.

Bud starts his second tour as Squadron Operations Officer in October 1944.

Bud's last combat mission 15 January 1945.