Bud Anderson

3.1.1. Training and deployment

He completed his Primary Flight Training at Lindbergh Field in San Diego, followed by Advanced Training at Luke Field in Arizona. In September 1942, he earned his wings and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces at Hamilton Field, California.

From September 1942 to March 1943, Anderson began flying Bell P-39 Airacobras with the 329th Fighter Squadron of the 328th Fighter Group, initially at Hamilton Field and then at the Oakland Municipal Airport. In March 1943, he was assigned to the 363rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 357th Fighter Group, at Tonopah, Nevada. His unit subsequently moved through various bases in California from May to October 1943, then to Casper, Wyoming, from October to November 1943, before finally deploying to England in November 1943.

3.1.2. Service with the 357th Fighter Group

The 357th Fighter Group, also known as the "Yoxford Boys," was stationed at RAF Leiston in England. In January 1944, the group was equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang. Anderson's first aerial victory occurred on February 5, 1944, when he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that was attacking a straggling B-17 Flying Fortress north of Dessau, Germany.

3.1.3. Aircraft and missions

Anderson flew two combat tours against the Luftwaffe in Europe with the 363rd Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Leiston. He primarily flew P-51 Mustangs, with his first (P-51B-15-NA AAF Ser. No. 43-24823) and second (P-51D-10-NA Mustang, AAF Ser. No. 44-14450 B6-S) aircraft both famously nicknamed Old Crow. This name was inspired by the whiskey of the same name. Remarkably, Anderson completed 116 combat missions in his "Old Crow" Mustangs without ever being hit by enemy fire or having to turn back for any reason.

3.1.4. Combat record and aerial victories

On April 11, 1944, Anderson claimed another Bf 109 west of Hanover and damaged a second 20 minutes later. During the same mission, he and two other pilots from his flight collaboratively shot down a Heinkel He 111 bomber that was attempting to land at an airfield in Hanover, resulting in a shared aerial victory credit for the three pilots. Anderson continued to achieve aerial victories, officially becoming a flying ace on May 12, 1944, after shooting down a Bf 109 over Frankfurt, Germany, marking his fifth aerial victory. By the end of May, he had destroyed three more enemy aircraft.

On June 29, Anderson led his fighter squadron on a bomber escort mission over Leipzig, Germany. Over the target, the squadron encountered eight Focke-Wulf Fw 190s attempting to attack the bomber formation. Anderson shot down the lead Fw 190 and then, in the ensuing dogfight, downed two more Fw 190s, bringing his total for that mission to three. In July, after achieving his twelfth aerial victory, he took leave and returned to the United States.

That fall, Anderson returned to the 357th Fighter Group. On November 27, he shot down two Fw 190s over Magdeburg, Germany, and forced another to crash-land as he attempted to shoot it down, earning him credit for two aerial victories and one probable. On December 5, while leading a fighter escort for bombers over Berlin, Germany, his escort was attacked by a formation of 20 Fw 190s. In the ensuing dogfight, he shot down two, which became his final aerial victories of the war.

Anderson was the 357th Fighter Group's third leading ace, credited with 16.25 aerial victories. He was promoted to major at the age of 22, a remarkably young age for such a high rank during wartime. During World War II, Anderson became a close friend of Chuck Yeager, who also served in the 357th Fighter Group and later became a brigadier general.

3.2.1. Test pilot duties

Anderson returned to the U.S. in January 1945, serving at Perrin Field, Texas, until October of that year, when he was assigned as a recruiter in Ohio. In May 1948, he transitioned to a test pilot role at Wright Field, serving there until February 1953. During this period, he participated in the FICON project, an experimental concept designed to extend the combat radius of jet fighters by attaching them to the wingtips of a propeller-driven bomber. The project aimed not only to increase fuel efficiency and effective range but also to allow the bomber to carry its own fighter escort deep into enemy territory.

He continued his test pilot duties, serving as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division at Edwards Air Force Base from November 1957 to August 1962. From July 1963 to August 1965, he served as Deputy Chief of Flight Test and Deputy Chief of System Test at Edwards Air Force Base.

3.2.2. Command assignments

Anderson attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from September 1954 to August 1955. Following this, he was assigned as Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea, from August 1955 to February 1956. He then commanded the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron at Osan from February to August 1956. From August 1956 to November 1957, he served as the Senior Officer of the 6511th Test Wing stationed at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California.

He attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, from August 1962 to July 1963. From August 1965 to December 1967, he was stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, where he served as deputy director, director of operations, and commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing.