Last WWII Triple Ace Passes Away

[TXBryan]

Bud Anderson passed away May 17, at 102 years. An absolutely amazing career and an amazing man. Likely many forum members know of him.

They shall not pass this way again.

Fighter pilot Bud Anderson, the last of the WWII triple aces, dies at 102 | Stars and Stripes

 

[Rudi]

They are all almost gone. What an amazing group of men. RIP.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Once he was my Wing Commander.
Somewhere in the garage there's a Pic of him awarding me a Medal.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Another of the Greatest Generation gone west. RIP.

 

[llowry61]

These men were true American Heroes. The last of an era - RIP.

 

[whitestang]

I have a hand drawn picture of his P-51 Old Crow and Chuck Yeager's Glamorous Glen 3. It is signed by both of them and the artist. RIP Bud.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Found this picture taken at Takhli, AB, Thailand.
That's Bud Anderson in the White Party Suit.
On Bud's left is my boss, Roy Dickey, 44TFS Commander.
Black Suits, Vampires!

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I was a kid during WW2 but followed the war closely. Later on I worked with many Greatest Gen. guys. Most were real fine men and I became a good friend to them. Later some would tell their stories and some never did. I remember their good and bad ones. Some were injured but most came home whole but the injuries were inside. All the ones I knew are gone now. I think of them often. So far my memory is OK.

 

[fordson]

"July 7, 1944, Bud Anderson slides in behind a trio of ME 109S flying in perfect formation, seemingly oblivious to the huge armada of bombers and fighters in the vicinity. 357TH Fighter Group leader Tommy Hayes, spoiling for action, calls out on the radio, "Andy! Where are you?". Focused on the business at hand, Anderson replies, "Can't talk now...Gotta shoot"."

I grew up reading about these legends of the air war over Europe…….RIP, Colonel…..