{"id":2250344,"date":"2024-05-22T12:38:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T16:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-at-102\/"},"modified":"2024-05-22T12:42:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T16:42:58","slug":"americas-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-at-102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-at-102\/","title":{"rendered":"Iconic WWII &#8216;triple ace&#8217; passes away at 102 in the USA"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Famericas-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-at-102%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2250344&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Brigadier General Clarence &#8220;Bud&#8221; Anderson, \u200dAmerica&#8217;s last WWII &#8220;triple ace,&#8221; passed away at 102. Known for his 16.25 aerial\u2064 victories, he \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chief-justice-john-roberts-is-corrupt-and-should-resign-immediately-attorney-lin-wood-goes-scorched-earth-on-scotus-chief-justice\/\" title=\"\u201cChief Justice John Roberts Is Corrupt and Should Resign Immediately\u201d \u2013 Attorney Lin Wood GOES SCORCHED EARTH on SCOTUS Chief Justice\">flew<\/a> a P-51 Mustang named &#8220;Old Crow.&#8221; Anderson&#8217;s heroic \u2063tale includes recalling his first victory after 80 years. His remarkable combat skills left\u200d a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-thanks-wapo-for-correcting-latest-media-travesty-blasts-legacy-media-for-acting-like-political-entities\/\" title=\"Trump Thanks WaPo For Correcting \u2018Latest Media Travesty,\u2019 Blasts Legacy Media For Acting Like \u2018Political Entities\u2019\">lasting legacy<\/a>. Brigadier General \u200dClarence &#8220;Bud&#8221;\u200d Anderson, the final American &#8220;triple ace&#8221; of\u200b World War II, died at the age of 102. With 16.25 aerial victories, \u2063he piloted the famed P-51 Mustang\u2064 &#8220;Old Crow.&#8221; Even after eight decades, Anderson vividly remembered his first triumph, showcasing his exceptional combat prowess and enduring impact.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Brig. Gen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/air-force\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Clarence \u201cBud\u201d Anderson<\/a>, the last American \u201ctriple ace\u201d of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world-war-II\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>World War II<\/a>, died Friday at his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>California<\/a> home at 102 years old.<\/p>\n<p>A native of the Golden State, Anderson was born on Jan. 13, 1922, and joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>U.S. Army Air Forces<\/a> in 1942. He entered the Second World War as a member of the 357th Fighter Group and flew a P-51 Mustang named \u201cOld Crow\u201d for his favorite whiskey, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/veterans\/military-history\/2024\/05\/20\/bud-anderson-americas-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-at-102\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to a report.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson is credited with 16.25 aerial combat victories and was renowned for his heroics as a \u201ctriple ace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The title \u201cace\u201d is given to a pilot with at least five credited kills, and a \u201ctriple ace\u201d is an individual with 15.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson could recall his first victory nearly eight decades after it happened.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Brig. Gen. \u201cBud\u201d Anderson, the last American triple ace, passed away May 17, 2024, at 102 years old.<\/p>\n<p>Blue skies and tailwinds, Wingman. Rest easy. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vZEBiyHeYt\">pic.twitter.com\/vZEBiyHeYt<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/usairforce\/status\/1793022773440270631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cOn March 8, we were heading home, three or four guys, with [1st Lt. John England] along with us,\u201d he recalled in 2022. \u201cWe saw a Boeing B-17 below us, smoking, so we were headed over there when three Messerschmitt Me-109s came up. \u2026 They didn\u2019t even see us. We cut them off at the pass and I saw one and said, \u2018This one\u2019s mine.\u2019 I wanted one bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fight soon became one of concentric circles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to get a shot in at 90 degrees,\u201d he said. \u201cI was pulling a lot of G\u2019s. \u2026 I fired blind, and when he next came in view, black smoke was coming out \u2014 I got him in the coolant system. He went up and bailed out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later that night, Anderson\u2019s actions were celebrated in the officer\u2019s club, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBest shooting I\u2019ve ever seen in my life,\u201d his wingman told him, Anderson said. \u201cYou hit that son of a b**** out there at over 40 degrees!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After World War II, Anderson worked to guide the United States into the age of jet aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe flew many models of the early jet fighters and was involved in two very unusual flight test programs,\u201d Anderson\u2019s website reads. \u201cHe made the first flights on a bizarre experimental program to couple jet fighters to the wingtips of a large bomber aircraft for range extension. Later he also conducted the initial development flights on the F-84 Parasite fighter modified to be launched and retrieved from the very large B-36 bomber.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During his three-decade military career, Anderson also commanded an F-86 squadron in Korea, flew Republic F-105D fighter-bombers in the skies over Vietnam, and was responsible for an F-105 wing in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>He logged over 7,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-airlines-desperate-for-pilots-consider-cutting-training-requirements\/\" title=\"U.S. Airlines Desperate For Pilots Consider Cutting Training Requirements\">500 flight hours<\/a> in over 130 different aircraft until his retirement in 1972, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For his service, Anderson was awarded five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star, and a Commendation Medal, and he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.military.com\/history\/clarence-bud-anderson-last-world-war-ii-triple-ace-dies-102.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>bestowed<\/a> with the rank of brigadier general shortly before his death.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of his military service, he wed Eleanor Cosby in 1945, and the pair raised two children.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brigadier General Clarence &#8220;Bud&#8221; Anderson, the final American &#8220;triple ace&#8221; from WWII, passed away at 102 in his California residence. A Californian by birth, Anderson joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 and entered the Second World War with remarkable valor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2644,"featured_media":2250345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.15.29%E2%80%AFAM-1024x548.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2250344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.15.29%E2%80%AFAM-1024x548.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2250344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2644"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2250344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2250344\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2250345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2250344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2250344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2250344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}