AUBURN, Calif. — Living legend and local man Clarence “Bud” Anderson is known as the most famous fighter pilot in United States history.
The Auburn native, and now a retired Air Force general, enlisted in the military the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor and is known for his 9-51 Mustang named Old Crow.
Now at 101 years old, he reflects on how he got where he is today.
“I didn’t think twice [about enlisting]. We lived on a little ranch in Auburn and all but raced down the hill to sign up,” he said.
He was fast-tracked into being a pilot and after only a year, he was flying the same model plane seen at the end of Top Gun Maverick.
As for why his plane was called Old Crow?
“The crow has amazing aim for its prey and never forgets an enemy,” said Anderson. “But I named it after the whisky!”
He survived over 480 hours in hostile air spaces over war zones, flew 116 missions during which he shot down 16 enemy aircrafts, making him America’s only triple ace — an ace referencing five enemy aircraft shot down.
“I was afraid, sure, of the unknown, but every time I went out that was a little less,” said Anderson. “Truth be told, I loved flying, so I was just glad to be doing that.”
He says his love for flying and aircraft started long before enlisting, remembering the time he saw a plane fly over his family’s field and how he “never stopped looking up after that.”
Anderson was also the inspiration behind George Bailey’s brother’s character in It’s A Wonderful Life.
The nearly 102-year-old says his secret to living a long life is to have “no minor vices.”
Anderson’s warm smile can forever be seen just off the runway at Wings Cafe at the Auburn airport where a life-size bronze sculpture, made by world-famous artist Douglas Van Howd, sits eternally.
