BUD ANDERSON | WWII TRIPLE ACE | Explaining the P-51 Mustang | American Pilots

The American Triple Ace explains his P-51 Mustang and reveals priceless memories.
On January 13th 2022, Bud Anderson hit a major milestone turning 100 years old!

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Bud is a WWII Triple Ace who flew the P-51 Mustang Old Crow, while assigned to the 357th Fighter Group “Yoxford Boys,” 8th Air Force, Leiston Field, United Kingdom. Bud was the leading Ace of the 363rd Fighter Squadron with 16 1/4 victories. In July 2008, Bud was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and in 2013, Bud was inducted into the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s International Air and Space Hall of Fame! In 2015, Bud was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, with all the American Fighter Aces. In 2017, Bud was inducted into the EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame and awarded the Air Force Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Bud’s close friend Mr. Jack Roush has restored P-51 Mustangs, exactly as Bud flew them during WWII.

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

Anderson began flying Bell P-39 Airacobras with the 329th Fighter Squadron of the 328th Fighter Group at Hamilton Field and then at the Oakland Municipal Airport, from September 1942 to March 1943. He was later assigned to the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group at Tonopah, Nevada, in March 1943, moving to various bases in California from May to October 1943, then at Casper, Wyoming, from October to November 1943, and finally deploying to England in November 1943.

The 357th Fighter Group was stationed at RAF Leiston, and the group was equipped the North American P-51 Mustang in January 1944. Anderson flew his first mission on February 5, 1944. On March 3, 1944, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that was attacking a straggling B-17 Flying Fortress over Berlin, his first aerial victory. Anderson continued to score aerial victories until he shot down a Bf 109 over Frankfurt, his fifth aerial victory, thus making him a flying ace.

On June 29, 1944, Anderson shot down three Focke-Wulf Fw 190s over Leipzig. In July 1944, he took shore leave and returned to the United States. In Fall 1944, he returned to 357th FG and continued to score aerial victories. He scored his final aerial victories on December 5, 1944, when he shot down two Fw 190s over Berlin.

Anderson flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in Europe while with the 363d Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, based at RAF Leiston, England, and was the group's third leading ace with 16+1⁄4 aerial victories. The others only flew one tour so they had less time in the air. His P-51 Mustang, (P-51B-15-NA AAF Ser. No. 43-24823) the P-51D-10-NA Mustang, AAF Ser. No. 44-14450 B6-S, again nicknamed Old Crow[5] (after the whiskey of the same name), carried him safely through 116 missions without being hit by fire from enemy aircraft and without Anderson ever having to turn back for any reason. He returned to the United States in February 1945 as a major.

Anderson returned to the U.S. in January 1945, serving at Perrin Field, Texas, until October 1945, when he was assigned as a recruiter in Ohio. He served as a recruiter until May 1948, when he transferred to the Flight Test Division with Headquarters Air Material Command at Wright Field, Ohio. Anderson served as a test pilot at Wright Field from May 1948 to February 1953, and then at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from February 1953 to September 1954. During this time, he took part in the FICON project, a concept to increase the effective combat radius of jet fighters by attaching them to a propeller-driven bomber, one hooked up to each wingtip. The hope was that it would not only increase fuel efficiency and effective range, but also allow the bomber to carry its own fighter escort deep into enemy territory.

Anderson attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from September 1954 to August 1955, and then 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 served as commander of the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing from February to August 1956, and then served as Executive Officer with the 6511th Parachute Test Group at NAAS El Centro, California, from August 1956 to November 1957.

#p51 #budanderson #ww2

[Samokopecky]

Would love to see the second part where he shows the cockpit.

[compservink]

He just passed away yesterday at 102 happy trails Colonel Bud

[RAF-FIG]

Wonderful video, THANK YOU on making this video! I was proud too have the opportunity to meet & talk to Col, BUD ANDERSON a few years back....

[theyzforme]

Great video! Bedsides being a living legend, Bud is a genuinely great guy. I had the privilege to go to his birthday party in January and listen to him tell a lot of great stories. He'll take the time to talk to anyone and answer any questions. He has a remarkable memory and can tell you countless details about things that happened 75+ years ago. Truly a national treasure.

[markfryer]

Stripping the paint off a P-51 overnight in less than 24 hours, is decidedly hardcore! Still, they probably realised that the olive drab would have been sticking out against the snow and therefore putting their pilot and aircraft at greater risk of being attacked and possibly shot down, so stripping that paint off would come down to loyalty, care and pride for their pilot and aircraft. Can you imagine how much they would have kicked themselves if they had left stripping off the paint for a day or two and Bud had been shot down and or killed? Not a nice place to be, so working overnight and rubbing your hands raw was the lesser of two evils.
Mark from Melbourne Australia

[Rampant_Colt]

Col. Clarence Anderson is a true hero! Check out his book, "To Fly and Fight - Memoirs of a Triple Ace".
Great video!

[jeffshultz]

please include the rest. I need to see the in cockpit sutff

[eamo]

We met Bud, me and 2 of 4 kids Wings over Houston, a few years 1997-1999. Had books signed and later a picture. Just an honor.
Question to Jim, was this his last flight at he controls or when was that ? RIP Sir.

[mike-wec]

I met Bud at Virginia Baders art shop in Orange County, CA years ago and Bud autographed several pieces if art for me. He was very kind and chatted freely. He was in his 80's then. Very much a nice and generous Soul. So glad he is still with us.

[chadclark]

People like him inspire me to become a fighter pilot.

[kenlott]

Never had the honor to meet Col Anderson but, did fly with his son, Jim, at Southwest Airlines. Both are true gentlemen.

[gregormcnee]

What an absolutely AMAZING Sharp as a Tack, what a total He still would be ready for a mission over Germany even now. Absolutely INCREDIBLE. ❤❤❤Love from Orkney Islands, Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[MrRagequitnow]

Bud Anderson, and Old Crow was the only P-51 pilot I knew about before this video. This video shed more light on a living legend. Thank you for your service!
Edit: My father served as a flight line mechanic at the end of Vietnam, and the post war spin down. He ended up getting a reward flight from the air force in a F4 he helped keep in service. That particular F4 had been hit many times and the port side engine had been literally held in place by the last bolt holding to the air frame. According to my father all the pilots save 1 survived the war, on planes he helped maintain. The one that died took a SAM near Haiphong, and the plane and crew was lost.

[karstenerdinger]

Bud is still alive and kickin’ at age 100.. That is fantastic! God bless you Col. Anderson and thank you for your service to the country.

[dannyholt]

An awesome pilot in an awesome plane with an awesome video to document it all! Thanks for the video! Cheers, Danny

[waywardspirit]

A Triple Ace with a phenomenal record and a gazillion war stories but all he wants to do is give praise to his ground crew.

"The meek shall inherit the earth"

[billwing]

Waiting for the Col.s cockpit control preflight. Please advise we’re to find it. Thank you in advance. 🙏

[mariatorres]

Thank you so much for your content & time you spend makeing such a great channel.
P-51 is my favorite plane so cant wait to see it.

[jamesburns]

My Dad was in the 37th Infantry in WWII and was in combat for three years in Bougainville, Fiiji, The Solomons, and the Phillippines. When I told him I wanted to be a pilot, he looked at me like it was foolish. If Bud Anderson had been my Dad, I know I would have become one.

[Stardust]

Blessed old age, all the best for the future and may the Lord bring you eternal youth and invulnerability.