Colonel Clarence “Bud” Anderson celebrated his 100th birthday today. He remains one of the United States Air Force’s most celebrated pilots and is perhaps most well known for his prowess over Europe during WWII, where he is credited with downing 16+ enemy aircraft while flying P-51 Mustangs with the legendary 357th Fighter Group. He flew 116 combat missions with this unit – all without taking any damage to his aircraft or the need to return due to mechanical issues, a remarkable feat which demonstrates both his skill as a fighter pilot and an intimate understanding for his aircraft and its systems.
This was not Col. Anderson’s only experience in a war zone, however, as twenty five years later he lead the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing’s F-105 Thunderchiefs into combat in the skies over North Vietnam.
Despite these wartime exploits and his demonstration of exceptional leadership skills, Anderson’s most daring aerial feats probably lay in his work between the wars at Wright Field. From here he helped test highly-modified F-84s which Republic Aviation had adapted for the FICON (Fighter Conveyor) program. While the parasite fighter concept wasn’t new – Goodyear had built a pair of massive dirigibles in the early 1930s (USS Macon and Akron) which could field up to five Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks from a hangar/trapeze setup in their bellies – the idea of doing such a thing with high performance jets seems utterly irrational from today’s perspective.
But in the mid-1950s, during the tumult of the Cold War, very few risks were not considered worth taking when it came to ensuring the nation’s strategic bombers could reach their targets. In this particular case, one of “Bud” Anderson’s roles was to evaluate methods for mating and de-mating his F-84 from the Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker mothership – in flight! They tried several approaches, either mounting the F-84 to the Peacemaker’s belly, or to its wingtips. Needless to say, testing these aircraft in action was always a hair-raising ordeal, and it’s hard to imagine the kind of courage, determination and skill required to perform such tasks – but, as all of us know, Col. Anderson is no ordinary pilot.
Back in 2013, the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum invited Col. Anderson to make a public presentation describing his experiences on the FICON project. Thankfully this is available online, via the Smithsonian’s YouTube Channel below. Having been there in person to witness this marvelous lecture, I can assure readers that it is really worth watching!
Interspersed with his assignments to regular USAF units, Col Anderson regularly returned to test flying, which culminated with his serving as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division at Edwards Air Force Base between November 1957 and August 1962.
Following his retirement from the Air Force in March, 1972, Colonel Anderson returned to the flight evaluation arena, managing the McDonnell Aircraft Company’s Flight Test Facility at Edwards AFB for the next dozen years. A California native, Bud retired to Auburn in his home state where he continues to live amongst a multitude of friends. A gentle and thoughtful man, he is beloved by all who know him!
Many congratulations to Col Anderson for reaching such a remarkable milestone… and to a life well lived!
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
It is because of Colonel Anderson (and other men such as he) that I am free today!
From a former
SSgt
379th Bomb Wing (Heavy)
Strategic Air Command
USAF 1968-1972
Happy Birthday and thank you! We are forever in your debt. If my father was still here, we’d raise a glass to you and your service.
Happy Birthday Mr. Anderson.
Thank you sir for your service we lost our uncle on omaha beach during the invasion of France June 6 1944 again thank you People like you are what makes our country so great
Hi Franklin,
I am so thankful for your uncle and the thousands of Americans who sacrificed everything to help my country (France). Wars are such an absurdity.
I am here in Auburn, CA as an invitee to attend Col.Anderson’s 100th BD celebration whom I have know for thirty years. What a gentleman, what a fine example of our Greatest Generation of WWII. Thank you so much for your service to this country and your community, Colonel, Godspeed.
PEE FIFTY ONE HUNDRED, OUTSTANDING!
met you several years ago at the Auburn Air Show. You were in a little room and my brother in law and I spoke with you for about an hour. It was during that conversation that I discovered we were stationed at Okinawa at the same time. I was in the 18th A&E Fire Control Systems for the F105s. I bought your book but we were talking so much I failed to get you to sign it. “To Fight and Fly”. Haappy Birthday from SSGT Warner H. Anderson, now living in Nevada.
Happy 100th Birthday! I met you once about 20 years ago at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. It was a pleasure to meet you and the several members of your squadron. An honor to meet you. God Bless you all.
“Happy 100th Birthday Col Anderson!” Thank you for your distinguished service while serving our country!
Happy Birthday, Dear Colonel Anderson.
Buon Compleanno, Carissimo Bud.
God Bless you Bud Anderson!!! My father was a P-51 pilot in China. He was a Flying Tiger! Once again, God Bless you Bud Anderson and Happy, Happy Birthday. Dale A Griffy.
(Alfred D Griffy was my father. He passed in 1999)
Met Bud Anderson at the WW2 Reenactment in Reading, Pa. He was there doing a talk about
his service with the P51 and sitting on the wing of “Old Crow”