Brig. Gen. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the last American “triple ace” of World War II, died Friday at his California home at 102 years old.
A native of the Golden State, Anderson was born on Jan. 13, 1922, and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942. He entered the Second World War as a member of the 357th Fighter Group and flew a P-51 Mustang named “Old Crow” for his favorite whiskey, according to a report.
Anderson is credited with 16.25 aerial combat victories and was renowned for his heroics as a “triple ace.”
The title “ace” is given to a pilot with at least five credited kills, and a “triple ace” is someone with 15.
Anderson could recall his first victory nearly eight decades after it happened.
Brig. Gen. “Bud”
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