WWII Triple Ace on Why They Beat the Luftwaffe | Colonel Clarence 'Bud' Anderson

Colonel Clarence 'Bud' Anderson scored 16 1/4 victories over the skies of Europe in World War II. Piloting his P-51 Mustang nicknamed 'Old Crow,' Anderson completed 116 missions without a scratch. Comrades with Chuck Yeager in the 357th Fighter Group, Anderson would be promoted to Major at the ripe age of 22. He became a test pilot following the war, and continued his service through Vietnam.
A member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Bud Anderson sat down with AVC at age 99 to share his story.
Colonel Clarence 'Bud' Anderson passed away on May 17, 2024, age 102.
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[@americanveteranscenter]

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[@elijahwood5447]

Most German aces had 100 kills and the best Ace of ww2 was German

[@10siWhiz]

Talk to as many ww2 vets as you can. They're aging and we only have so many left to hear their stories. Real heros from a much more difficult time in combat.

[@danbokros3469]

@@elijahwood5447 r😅r😅😅😅😅😅

[@Glostahdude]

Thank you guys for capturing all these great stories of history directly from the men who lived them…. Every day of every year we are loosing more and more of these fine men who, some fought and survived 2 major wars! These stories are GOLD. Thank you to all the men and women of my grandfathers generation who faught and beat fascism and battled communism to a stale mate…. God Bless you all!

[@barrywalker3618]

@@danbokros3469 ghg ggghggghg y gyyyuy yyggjg. Ko. Ok ooo. O o

[@Aquablecs]

RIP Bud Anderson! He passed away May 17, 2024. Just three days ago. Sad to see you go, but so grateful for your service! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@karstenerdinger2167]

He is still alive and kickin’ today at 102 yrs of age. God bless him!

[@user-ou9qd9no5n]

Thanks for this information

[@stemtostern7611]

Thanks!

[@kevindown1592]

I used to work with a young lady whose father owned a country garage. Each morning several old guys would stop by to drink coffee & swap lies. She didn’t know that two of the greatest WWII fighter pilots were in that group - Bud & Chuck were two of them. She thought they just wanted her Dad’s free donuts and didn’t find out who they were until she was older.

[@karstenerdinger2167]

@@kevindown1592 Great story. Thank you!

[@peteramura]

Amazing! Thx for recording the interview.

[@spacechimp3199]

Incredible. This guy was 99 here and he is 100 now but he only looks 70. Not only that but he’s still extremely coherent and intelligent. What a magnificent bastard.

[@xcen1]

Right , he should be president,

[@Bronco4eva]

Has more competence than our current president… FJB

[@garf0001]

@@Bronco4eva Let's Go Brandon

[@garyschultz7768]

Stay engaged ....we dont want the country this vet fought for to be destroyed by the power mad bullys currently in power ..... We owe it to these WW-2 Vets & to our grandchildren........

[@stumatthews8677]

​@@Bronco4eva keep that Trumpist crap off this forum. This great man has nothing to do with your ridiculous politics and without a doubt Bud Anderson would think Donald Trump is an absolute joke. And he'd be right.

[@PathfinderHistoryTravel]

In March 2022, I had the privilege to tell Bud “thank you for my freedom “. It brought a smile to his face and he said “the true heroes are the ones that didn’t come home “. I will never forget that day.

[@brianjschumer]

@J_Rewilded Go back into the basement and watch your porn..

[@majordelays4909]

@J_Rewilded 🫤

[@h1ob355]

@J_Rewilded No, Sir! LIke their victims they were the victims of a genocidal madman who abused their youth and souls to fullfill his sick and evil dreams of world leadership! Greetings from Germany!

[@genos876]

@J_Rewilded lol

[@chadwickalexanderjr1758]

@J_Rewilded You say this in English as presumably a privileged westerner. Luckily for everyone but you true American heroes neither need or want your thanks.

[@skipvalentine1451]

Thank you for capturing his thoughts while we've still got him. He's an absolute legend. It's very cool that he and Yeager got to live a long life.

[@americanveteranscenter]

It's our pleasure, thank you for watching.

[@derekturner3272]

Yeah, got to live to see the current generation give away the liberty and freedom he sacrificed so dearly to preserve. It's a double edged sword according to my broken hearted grandfather who recently passed and was a vet of Iwo....

[@TantheMan415]

Even old age can’t get these guys.

[@patrickancona1193]

@@derekturner3272 we GenX do not have the luxury of complaining, we have the duty & responsibility of leading the push back which has barely even begun, are you going to watch the polls to make sure bs doesn’t happen again? gotten involved in your local school board? began unifying your neighborhood into a real community? made a phone tree? anything?! if not pick your damn lip off the floor grab one & get to steppin

[@derekturner3272]

@@patrickancona1193 I couldn't agree more. Your comment to me could have been a 1000 comments I've made to others. Take family to the polling location, organize and educate. Open eyes to the lies and the outright corruption of the media/leftist government/big tech partnership that is militating against our rights. 100% brother.

[@tjmul3381]

When Chuck Yeager says that Clarence "Bud" Anderson is "The best pilot I've ever seen." You listen up and take him at his word. What a lucky thrill to still hear Colonel Anderson talking about his experiences. The Last of the Old Breed, indeed.

[@tomholland2707]

richard bong is the best pilot yeager ever seen

[@tjmul3381]

@@tomholland2707 I got this quote of Chuck Yeager's opinion about 'the best pilot' from an televised interview of Chuck Yeager. He spoke those words. Where did you get your quote or opinion from?

[@toddleroux4745]

Yeah, right. Listen to how he 'Chuckles Yeager, slipped behind a defenseless German pilot, who was landing and shot him in the back. In his words, "Yeah, dirty pool, but what the hell." Typical American coward and POS.

[@georgeholbrook1886]

@@tjmul3381 You are talking about Yeager's Opinion. Tom Holland is Talking fact.. assuming of course that Yeager ever met Bong. MInd you there's at least 150 Luftwaffe Pilots that were far better than both of them.

[@ahrhebbx2239]

@@georgeholbrook1886 shut the hell up. Just look at the quote and keep scrolling. Nobody cares about he said she said

[@steve1751]

I had the privilege of meeting him around 1995 and I couldn’t have been more impressed. He is the most humble, genuine and kind person you could imagine.

[@edwardpoe7323]

I sold this man a set of garage doors in 2012, he was absolutely accomodating and engaging to speak with. I spoke with him for about two hours on many different subjects mostly aspects of aviation. His stories about the aviation industry after the war are far more interesting,in my opinion since the subject of the war has been so thoroughly covered. Anyone doing research in the subject would be doing themselves a favor by looking him up

[@talltomb]

My father was a P47 fighter pilot; my colleague "Joe"at a German company I worked for in the early 80's was a Luftwaffe Junkers pilot during WWII. Joe told me "at the beginning of the war we washed our dirty planes with gas, toward the end of the war we had no gas to fly our planes."

[@mdwoods100]

Still alive in march 2024, 102 years old. What a guy

[@cjr4286]

I did a history project on Anderson's dogfights and had a giant "Old Crow" model P-51 when I was younger. This man is a legend.

[@Mustang1984]

So sad to see these guys age and die off. Yea, they're truly the greatest generation.

[@lemonator8813]

@@Mustang1984 Truly. My last grandpa just passed away. He served in the air force in Korea. He never talked about his service. Wish he had but I didn't want to cause him any pain. Man I wish I had. Hopefully he's up there flying with guys like Yeager and Anderson.

[@Mustang1984]

@@lemonator8813 Well he is a hero. I agree you should have talked to him about his war experiences. I really feel in awe when I see WW2/Korean war vets.

[@lemonator8813]

@@Mustang1984 I tried but he'd always find a way to divert the conversation to how he knew and loved Don ho, Hawaii, and selling Xmas trees. Or his work as a chairmen on the Lions club of Portland. All good stories and they made him proud. Obviously he wasn't very proud of his military service, at least compared to his service to his community and to his wife, friends, and family.

[@Mustang1984]

@@lemonator8813 Well, he was a hero to me. I also had 2 grandfathers in WW2 however they both passed before I was 4 years old :(

[@zackadamec9332]

The men of his generation saved the world and they'll forever be cooler then us. Salute to you sir 🇺🇸

[@DannyBoy777777]

The Soviet Union was the cause of 80 per cent of German casualties. Let that sink in.

[@EXOWill]

Bud Anderson was the topic of many conversations around our kitchen table growing up. My father was a P-47 pilot in WWII 324th Fighter Group 316th Squadron.

[@meleecritical]

That 11 minute opener was worth every word. Col. Anderson 🫡

[@tomw6271]

This man is a great blessing. To be able to be this coherent at over 100 years old is incredible. I think he'd still be a good pilot today. His spirit is so lively when he's talking shop.

[@LadyOaksNZ]

Not talking shop.... revealing to you his heart ❤️...

[@tommorningstar6373]

Bud Anderson is fricking awesome. A true great and a real American hero.

[@walterheinen5298]

Got to see Bud and Yeager fly P51s at Oshkosh in the 90s. They were 73 at the time and sharper then a tack. God bless ‘em

[@daningrim475]

I met Bud Anderson in Midland TX many years ago. Despite his fame as an aggressive fighter pilot, he is the nicest person to talk to in person. A gentleman's gentleman in every way.

[@moosehead482]

The true warriors usually are...

[@samuelmorado70]

Lucky you. I was at a CAF air show there around early 90s . Maybe he was there. They had the CAT family of Grummans. F4, F6, F8 flying . I was so happy . My favorite plane was the F6F

[@ericbrammer2245]

My Uncle, who flew a few different planes, but mostly the B-26, and B-17, on high-priority tasks, held Bud in very High Regard. And noted, that he was Always Happy to see either a P-51 or P-47 flying along nearby!! War Heroes, and men like these Should Not Be FORGOTTEN, Ever!

[@koba2348]

Neither should the Stuka divers be forgotten

[@_dboy_]

My great uncle was Maj. Bobby Foy, who was also a triple ace in the 357th fighter group with Bud. What legends these guys were/are. Unfortunately I never got to meet my great uncle because he died as a passenger in a test flight in 1950. Definitely appreciate the chance to be able to hear these stories from someone who flew alongside him.

[@stingerbreed7994]

Thank you for his service salute

[@user-lf3wr8rh7r]

They had to be crazy brave, but i guess someone has to step up to the mark, proper warriors of the sky!

[@_dboy_]

@@user-lf3wr8rh7r for sure. To be able have lived that kind life, personally creating stuff usually only seen in movies; and then survive to tell your incredible story is mind blowing. It's so cool and almost incomprehensible to us with a 9 to 5 job and have never flown a plane, much less in the conditions and situations these men did.

[@fighterjetsteve]

Maj. Robert Foy. North American P-51D, "Little Schrimp" Ser no. 463621 code B6*V, 18 kills. On angels wings aviator.

[@_dboy_]

@@fighterjetsteve I have a model plane and a tin painting of the Little Shrimp at home. Before that, he flew "Reluctant Rebel". It's pretty awesome history.

[@terrymindham5340]

I met him in Oshkosh at the Air Show a few times, and bought his book, signed by him. A great guy, and very open to talking. Also bought many signed photos. What a nice man! I am so happy to see this, at 99 years of age. Bud was usually with Chuck Yeager, the friend he flew with in WWII. To meet guys of their stature was truly a thrill!

[@stevebailey325]

Likewise i bought his book and met him at a Sacramento Airshow i number of years ago. I mentioned i was a private pilot and later when i read his signature in my book, it said "to a fellow pilot... " i broke down.

[@timdake]

What a legend! “The best pilot I have ever seen” - Chuck Yeager.

[@louisavondart9178]

I guess Yeager never met Erich Hartmann. 347 kills.

[@stevesmith2171]

@@louisavondart9178 he wasn't even the US's highest scoring ace,that has nothing to do with his abilities as a pilot.

[@louisavondart9178]

@@stevesmith2171 ... it's a fair indication that Hartmann might just have been better. The Russians wanted him to be the head of the East German air force but he said NIEN ! Got sent to the Gulag instead.

[@stevesmith2171]

@@louisavondart9178 let's not forget that Yeager flew in WW2,Korea and was in charge of squadrons in Vietnam. He also was in charge of training our first batch of astronauts. He'd seen American,German,French, Russian,British,Polish,Chinese,Korean,Vietnamese and who knows how many other countries pilot's in action. Coming from him that is high praise. Hartmann was an amazing pilot and the West Germans should have made him the head of theirs,They wouldn't of lost so many pilots to accidents in a fighter that he absolutely despised. I have heard that Yeager and some other pilots tried to talk Hartmann into moving to America when he came to train here in the late 50's and he also said Nein. Do not know if that's true or not. Yeager never got to see Hartmann fly experimental aircraft to their limit's but he did this man,so it is what it is as far as that.

[@RemoteViewr1]

@@louisavondart9178 Hartman flew how msny more years, against inferior pilots, inferior planes, with the mission of not defending bomber streams. I take his nubers as absolutely accurate. If I were to compare their respective skill levels, I would factor these in. Hartmans team ultimately lost, having launched of unprovoked aggression, murdering many millions of russian civilians, caught uou, thought I was going to lead off with the 12 000,000 in the Holocaust, right? In a losing war that cost Germany millions of war dead, civilian and military, billions on treasure. He helped it happen. That he dedicated his best efforts to that end is despicable.

[@jond63]

I met Bud “Andy” Anderson back in 2012 at a military history/memorabilia show here in Louisville KY. I had just read his book and my buddies and I were excited to finally get to meet him. There was a long line of people waiting for a photo op and an autograph. After getting ours, we stood back outta the way and kept talking to the legend, asking him questions, letting him talk to us about everything and anything. He was as sharp as a tack, funny, gentle, and still had the eyes of a fighter pilot. We conversed with the man for 30min at least, totally monopolizing his time (much to the dismay of everyone else). Finally it was time to leave. All of us walked outta there on cloud 9, like kids after meeting Santa Claus. I’ll never forget that day, the day I met the legend and a triple ace, Bud Anderson. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@betteryou7hanme]

Every time i see an interview like this, it makes me wish I hadn't been so young when my great-grandfather was still around. He didn't serve in either world war, (he was a bit young for the first, and a bit old for the second) but the guy was almost a century older than me. Born before the first radio transmission, the first flight, the first movie, etc. and was still around to see the internet, hubble telescope, cellphones, and to play Sonic 2 and Mortal Kombat with me. Lived with us until i was almost 9. He was nearly 3 times as old as i am now. i can't even begin to imagine the stories and wisdom the guy had.

[@chuck4103]

Bud, thank you very very much for my freedom and your service as a fighter pilot in World War II God bless you

[@jeremypearson6852]

The brave boys in the RAF also deserve much credit, not just the ones from Britain, but also the ones from Canada, Australia, NZ and many European countries. What the RAF accomplished against the odds was nothing short of a miracle.

[@wala3o]

Lmao the odds? The whole world fought against Germany. The odds when it’s one vs one and u win. Not when u bring all ur friends like the west loves to do and calls them heroes

[@jimthompson8947]

..so watch an RAF video. Pick your battles 👎💀

[@wala3o]

@@jimthompson8947 I didn’t watch anything, i just read the comments. I can’t believe there are people who still believe in a cause that is a lie lol.

[@lufe8773]

@@jimthompson8947 Hey Jim ease up the bloke was only trying to spread a little credit around.

[@mickeydoolittle2057]

The Tuskegee boys need more credit…

[@RonSwanson-mb8ml]

He’s so incredibly coherent and intelligent for his age! They sure don’t make them like they used to

[@Chainyanker007]

My uncle served in the US Army in Europe in the war. He almost never said anything about it. He did tell his much younger sister that he once went out on a 7 man patrol and he was the only one who came back alive and with a leg wound. Never talked about it again to any of his siblings as far as I know. Just 3 aged sisters left, one whom I’m close too because she lives an hour away, she told me about that patrol he went on. He was a drinker too and a gambler who lost much but his wife stayed with him. He too was a farmer. No doubt those old vets saw too much horror to want to talk about it. What a sacrifice they made.

[@shannonmcstormy5021]

W.O.W…….Talk about the "Right Stuff"……..guy still has more marbles than 99% of most younger people I meet these days. I’m a Great Grandmother, just over half his age. Hat’s off all around…….(hugs).

[@tomcrnkovich1661]

What you do is so important. Thank you. This is a man in every proper sense of the word. Selfless. Humble. Skilled. Like so many of that generation that simply had a job to do. I've spent my life in awe of them. ...and am eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made. Their message and sentiment and memories are as important now as ever.

[@dbblues.9168]

I love hearing WW2 stories. I love as much detail and minutiae as possible. I want a human story, spare no details. Both of my grandfathers served in WW2. ( I served 98-06) As a kid in the 80s, aside from anecdotes, they wouldn't really talk about it. I had neighbors growing up who were also WW2 vets ( I was raised right outside an Army/AF/Navy base in the PNW). I can remember my gramps and these old neighbors once or twice getting together for a summer bbq and all sitting around telling war stories. I was maybe 7yo. I remember vividly today sitting on a rock about 6 feet outside the circle of about 8-10 ww2 vets , Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines just telling stories ,drinking, laughing. Best history lesson I ever got.

[@Cheka__]

I'm so glad Bud is still with us in 2022. We're so lucky to have this hero sharing his first hand accounts of ww2 fighter aviation with us.

[@jolynnland]

I could not be happier that someone took the time to talk to Colonel Anderson. He is in remarkable shape. Still as sharp as he ever was. Legend doesn't cover it here boys. A humble, lethal, gentle, aggressive, smart and interesting man who represents a generation I will never stop missing. I am thankful he is still with us and his voice and mannerisms are so familiar to me. I can hear my grandparents in him. The Greatest Generation indeed. They were magnificent as a whole, and so damned duty driven. The 357th was fertile ground for war heroes. Very good interview, he just lets Colonel Anderson talk and I can't get enough. Thank you for doing this for us Colonel. I remain eternally thankful and awed by you and the other 16 Million Americans who did their part to win the war.

[@maureenorourke3292]

99 yrs old. WWII pilot in Europe, then Pacific. Impressive ability to remember details. Wonderful to have these stories on film and in books.Like others after the war, he became a test pilot for manufacturers and government. My family new one of them (Mike Bates) and he crashed many test fights of new planes out in California desert.. They push those planes to see what they can do.When he retired he had broken most of the bones in his body. Years later he broke his leg and when the doctor saw the x'rays of the bones in his legs with massive numbers of fractures, he went straight to the exam room and asked what did you do for a living. Mike Bates had broken almost all of the bones in his body as a test pilot because "they crash a lot" he said, test pilots are crazy.The doctor could tell by the x'rays that the fractures happened over a period of time, some older than others. Great guy. Always smiling, laughing.

[@jimjam51075]

When his memory flickered once, he said he had "CRS". It took me about 2 seconds..."can't remember ....." lol

[@justynh5447]

I can listen to men like this tell their stories all day. Much respect to all the vets out there and I appreciate your service

[@johnfranklin4525]

About four years ago I was at an Oshkosh evening gathering for EAA lifetime members, a casual event. They brought in Bud Anderson and introduced him. Everyone applauded but then the guy that introduced him walked off and left Bud standing there with his walker! I immediately walked over and introduced myself and told him how much I admired and respected him (I'm a civilian pilot). Anyway, he couldn't have been nicer to me and we talked for about ten minutes. What a gentleman! God Bless you Bud Anderson!

[@patraic5241]

I saw an interview with a Luftwaffe pilot once. What stuck with me was that he said that an allied pilot would see the Luftwaffe once in five of six flights. The Luftwaffe pilots saw allied aircraft every single time they flew. The Luftwaffe pilot's had a black humor joke. They would all would earn an Iron Cross or a Wooden Cross.

[@milotura6828]

hey that adds up. the luffwaffe had no chance against the us airforce's numbers and training.

[@joshenarvidsano9976]

The German fighter pilot who said that was Gunther Rall. 275 kills. One thing that almost never comes up is the numbers because it does not sound as cool. That was the main thing that ultimetly killed the axis powers. At least that is my opinion.

[@patraic5241]

@@joshenarvidsano9976 Thanks. I couldn't remember his name. It's very true.

[@RubyBandUSA]

@@joshenarvidsano9976 no way 275 kills.

[@RubyBandUSA]

how about a "double cross"? as in, fooled. All german pilots and soldiers were fools for following the subhuman filth known as hitler. They were not professionals and not "good" soldiers. What would have made them good -- and in fact, heroes -- would have been if they killed hitler. They would have spared 50 millions lives, and prevented the utter ruination of the German homeland.

[@sunstatejon1928]

AGE 99 HE LOOKS FANTASTIC, THANKS FOR SAVING HIS GREAT STORY FOR OUR FUTURE

[@humbertolpz97]

101 years old🥹 glad we get to hear stories from a man who fought for our feedom🫡

[@Stevesautopartsify]

Loved when he said, "This wasn't a video game!" The bravery and skill of these men is awe inspiring!

[@tru3sk1ll]

But they still got mad at kill stealing, some things never change

[@CameronMcCreary]

Bud Anderson talks about dogfighting is like a card game but what if you were dealt the "dead man's hand"; black aces and eights. I lived in Auburn, CA for years and would see Mr. Anderson at air shows.

[@Wuei108]

I am always excited to listen to guys that really have been there. WW2 has an influence on everybody in europe and other countries. My father was wounded at the eastern front at age 19. He swore never to put a gun in his hands again.

[@timf2279]

I had the opportunity to meet Bud and spend sometime speaking to him. Class act and a hero. He is currently the American living "Ace of Aces". He told me a great story about a mission he was on with Chuck Yeager over Switzerland. Also don't every forget Chuck was Bud's wingman, Bud was the flight leader. Bud was also a 22 year old Major. Thank you for the great memories Bud, you're my hero.

[@jedisdad2265]

Once met Bud Anderson at Tyndall AFB air show.

[@dirks4093]

I love hearing Col. Bud Anderson's stories. I had the pleasure of meeting Anderson and his fellow pilots and crew members of his squadron (and getting all of their autographs on a numbered print painting showing Anderson shooting down ME-109s -- something I have framed and proudly hang on my wall all these 20 years later. A great moment I'll never forget, meeting all of them. God Bless their generation! Grateful.

[@louisavondart9178]

BF 109's......

[@datman3416]

Awesome

[@harrisongrant4705]

@@louisavondart9178 It’s the Same thing they were called Messerschmitt Bf-109 so you could say bf 109 or Me 109

[@jeffk464]

@@harrisongrant4705 There were some pretty bad 109 variants during the war. Basically the G series wasn't very good which is mostly what these guys would have been flying against. The 109F was great for its time and the 109K was supposed to be a match for the mustang but it was pretty late war.

[@harrisongrant4705]

@@jeffk464 yea I know The biggest part of the G series was to help in Africa hence the G-2 tropical but the fw-190s were a much better Match statistic to statistic for the mustangs

[@TDOLLA]

My uncle was also a WW2 fighter pilot and an extremely accomplished man and surgeon but there is nothing cooler than listening to him tell stories similar to this, he was very old when I was only a kid but I would be on the edge of my seat listening to his stories. He was also at Pearl Harbor during the attack (not as a pilot at that time) so that is another wealth of stories. Its not often you can sit across from someone and get a first hand account of the events at Pearl Harbor.

[@nomadthetraveler5782]

One of my Mom's uncles was killed in Pearl Harbor.

[@mattpiepenburg8769]

The greatest of the greatest generation. Service, humility, courage and honesty. A legend.

[@martinruanesr2690]

I bought his book titled “Fly to Fight” several years ago. It’s a book that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. I urge anyone to read this. I’d love for Bud to sign it for me someday. Thanks so much for sharing this interview. 🇺🇸

[@eddiehaskell1957]

You better hurry up Col. Anderson is 99 yrs old. I'll bet he would have no problem signing your book.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Stop what you’re doing right now and email him. Ask him if you an stop by.

[@wolfgagger]

I got a signed copy back in the day, a cherished treasure for sure

[@DblIre]

He was at Oshkosh this year signing books. The line went around the store.

[@nikoliesto9348]

Got my book signed and even had a short chat with him in 2007 at the "Gathering of Mustangs & Legends" in Ohio. Cherised memory and treasured book in my shelf. Such a nice man.

[@user-nh4pn6jj7p]

Really enjoyed this. When I was a 14 year old boy, my mentor was a fighter pilot over Germany. I would question him monthly about his experiences and it became my new foundation in life. He was also in the CIA, which doubled the info I collected. He basically saved my life with his experience and wisdom. I think about him every day, and thank God for putting him into my life.

[@michaelbrutallyhonest6026]

This man was 99 when this interview was taken? Wow. It's unlikely we'll ever have heroes such as this, ever again.

[@Tai2617]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Bud! Rest in power for eternity ❤️

[@workerdroid290]

And this is the exact reason why these heroes are named the Greatest Generation. Respect to you Sir. Never forgotten.

[@bigginsd1]

I remember my grandmother talking about living in London throughout the war. She would walk to work and regularly see dog fights. She would reflect on what a bizarre situation it was with her making her daily commute whilst two men are fighting to death above her.

[@nathanrawling4353]

Thing I ALWAYS find with these guys, regardless of nationality, role, regiment, service etc is how humble they are. No ego, just geniune guys doing a job- Some of the last of the greats

[@steveperreira5850]

Frankly I don’t think they are humble. I think they are very brave, and I don’t mind if they are a little bit cocky.

[@steveperreira5850]

The most wrongly used word in the English lexicon is “humble.” Usually when it is used it means that the person is deserving of pride, or accomplished, or revered. Strange how the language gets mangled.

[@nathanrawling4353]

I'd say they are and welcome when they are cocky. To me humble is they often shy away from praise for their accomplishments and for their bravery. Understand it may not be the correct definition of the word.

[@jimjam51075]

I think they are humble around civilians, knowing we could never touch their accomplishments. When the aces were around each other, I suspect humility went right out the window.

[@bobjohnson7207]

Now that guy is the sharpest knife in the drawer. Thanks for your service.

[@johnashton4086]

I had the great pleasure of visiting the Smithsonian many years ago with my young son. I was standing in front of the P-51 Mustang and was explaining to him the many merits of this aircraft ( including the British initiative in creating its final form ). I noticed just behind us was an older gentleman wearing a classic US aviators jacket. He introduced himself to my son and I. It turned out he was an ace from WWII ( 6 kills ) and regaled us with stories of fighting in the P-51 over Germany. One tale I have never heard retold related to drop tanks on the Mustang. He said that when they released them it was often the case that one of them would hang up and cause the aircraft could on you spin immediately. A special person.

[@JC-pu1ej]

Bill Overstreet from the 357th Fighter Group who flew with Bud shared this with me. "I thought he was the greatest then, I think him the greatest now." Such is Bud's skill and courage.

[@fighterjetsteve]

Absolutely Bill was no slouch himself!

[@truth6600]

Thank you for your service sir, America always needs heroes like you.

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you for sharing your story, service, courage and sacrifice for freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jamesberwick2210]

My dad found out that same thing going into Germany with Patton. Lots of airfields, lots of planes, ran out of pilots, no one left to train new pilots. We simply wore them down to nothing. Our pilots had so many missions, rotated them home, let them be the instructors and train more pilots. Same thing happened in Japan, they ran out of pilots.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

The Luftwaffe had also been fighting the RAF since 1940 and the Red Air Force since 1941. They couldn't keep on going and expect pilot quality to remain the same.

[@jamesberwick2210]

@@lyndoncmp5751 I think Roosevelt and his generals knew it was a war of attrition wear them down and make more planes than they could shoot down. By 1944-45, we had pretty much eliminated the best pilots, those who were left were untrained and inexperienced. Not a winning combo. In the last six months of the war, the bombers actually ran out of targets, and what few there were left, they could fly unmolested over Berlin.

[@catocall7323]

If you include the Russians in that "we" you're right. Most of the attrition, and most of the fighting happened in the eastern front. Is said helped that, but the US started fighting the Germans after the Russians had done all the hard work of turning the German army from s winning one to a losing one.

[@jamesberwick2210]

It took everyone against Germany and Japan. What Hitler and Japan disregarded, our factories were out of reach. We could fill our needs, some of the British and Russian needs until the got their factories going ​@catocall7323

[@samchs222]

From what I heard, the US supplied huge amounts of resources to Russia

[@weatherphobia]

99 years old? This man speaks and has the recall many 70 year old men wish they had. BLESS THIS MAN and his bravery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@weatherphobia]

I must reply to myself....THIS MAN deserves the Congressional medal of honor, Presidential medal of freedom and an OSCAR in the documentary category. Will Smith should be slapped for extra power.

[@EatDatBitchAwp]

@@weatherphobia what does will smith have anything to do with this ww2 vet? Will smith must live in yo mind rent free🤣

[@xlmi7021]

Had the pleasure of meeting Bud Anderson a few times. Always a class act. Thank you Sir for your service!

[@francoismean7853]

cheers to you from belgium Sir

[@at1970]

As one of the German aces said. “ unlike the allies we had to fly until the war was over or we were killed”. There was no way they were going to win that war of attrition.

[@damndirtyrandy7721]

People seem oblivious to the personal responsibility one shoulders once the homeland is endangered. South Vietnamese pilots experienced the same fly until you die terms of service, too. Luckily, we Americans have rarely except for some faraway outposts like the Philippines and Wake Island early in WW2, had our backs up against a wall like that.

[@jake-px1rp]

that's bull the allies were just better pilots

[@at1970]

@@jake-px1rp The Allie’s were better than Germans with 10-20 hours of training and avgas with octane in the 80s They weren’t better than guys with 100a of combat sorties and dozs of kills

[@patnor7354]

The allies rotated pilots back home to train new pilots. The Germans did not...

[@Athrun82]

Probably because Germany never expected to fight a long war. Let's be honest the first years of WW2 had relatively short and decisive campaigns. Heck at one point Britain was fighting alone against Germany leaving the Luftwaffe breathing space to keep up with losses in both pilots and machines. That changed with Barbarossa and the entry of the US

[@tiredredneck8159]

SIR....thank you for everything... WE WILL NOT FORGET

[@eddiea3782]

God Bless you Colonel Clarence "Bud" Anderson. You are one of my heroes. My Dad was a WWII Vet. He was my biggest hero. I lost him last year 8/21/2021. My Dad served under General George S. Patton. The generation that saved the world. We owe all of you everything.

[@seanodwyer4322]

eddie- - ''your dad must had been near 100 years old- ?????

[@jaypercy5974]

Not just an ace but an absolute genius at maths

[@davidmoxley9823]

Thank you for what you have accomplished and what you continue to do and teach.

[@reaper2345]

Rest in peace sir.

[@mpojr]

my dad served in airforce WW2 l served in airforce during vietnam ,,Thank you COL Anderson for your service great story.

[@LindaWhary]

And thank YOU for your service and sacrifice of your time away from your family as you served in Vietnam sir! I lost friends who were fighting over there. I am grateful that you made it back. I salute you 🇺🇸❤

[@craig3613]

Absolute legendary heroes, everyone of you

[@capoconstruction1961]

this man never needs to say I'm sorry. Respect.

[@Adam-ze1jw]

Thank you for letting him tell his story. Clearly a very impactful moment for him to be able to remember and recall such detail. Glad I heard him tell it!

[@StuckOnAFireHydrant]

Oh man how lucky you are to meet such a great man! One day (hopefully soon) I'll find at least one ww2 vet from each branch and thank him for his service

[@steveperreira5850]

This interview should have been done about 20 years before. Bud it’s still pretty sharp here, but not really Tuned up for a great interview. I don’t suppose I would either at age 99

[@patwilson2546]

He got it right. The Luftwaffe had planes in late 1944. Just not enough fuel and very few competent pilots. Yes, some of the great German aces were still alive, but to win a world war you need thousands of competent pilots, not a few great ones.

[@lutherheggs]

AND we had the Redtail Squadron. (smirk)

[@elonfux2492]

@Terry Orzechowski all that means nothing if you don’t have the right pilot in the seat. He also didn’t mention the boulder sized balls he had or the nerves of steel required to get the job done.

[@rogerm169]

@@elonfux2492 well it actually means A LOT! Knowing what to expect (radar) or having no clue at all..

[@elonfux2492]

@@rogerm169 it absolutely means nothing if you don’t have a competent and/or skilled pilot. Knowing “what to expect” with 1940s radar lol doesn’t give you an automatic kill.

[@trenchtierstudios554]

The main thing that won the war was just straight numbers. Attrition is one of the biggest deciders in war. The allies could replace soldiers, tanks, ships, and planes. The axis powers couldn't.

[@ericjosephgarand8585]

Just wanted to wish Col. Anderson a happy 💯th birthday tomorrow! 🥳

[@cassatakissana9382]

It’s amazing how his plane could stay in the air carrying those massive steel balls

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

The P51 was a hell of a plane carry a large load and long distance so it handled Buds Big Balls

[@analystanalyst7652]

It’s good to see him in this interview. I was able to sit with him after dinner one night, about ten years ago after an air show in Texas, and we talked about flying. He talked as though we had flown together before, and it felt almost as if we had. He told me about keeping a night formation the night of June 5, 1944, patrolling over the Channel, and that when the sun rose there were only two of them left in the formation. Trying to keep a wingtip formation using navigation lights at night is tiring and nerve-racking but funny in retrospect. The perceived to be simple things aren’t so simple. As Yeager said, ‘he's the best pilot he knew’. If you’ve met the man, you will never forget it. I wish the interviewer had asked him more about Operation Pointblank and the reduction of Luftwaffe pilots by bringing them up to fight, which he started to talk about. We hit strategic targets during the day but we hit Berlin too and one of the reasons was to bring the Luftwaffe up to fight with the long-legged (laminar flow wing) P-51 so that we could whittle down their corps of experienced pilots. There was a lot there that he wanted to talk about that the interviewer went right past. Johnny

[@deltaboy767]

Thankyou for Your Service colonel Anderson May you Rip

[@ABQRT]

I met Bud Anderson on and American Airlines flight from Sacramento to DFW around 1984-85. I hadn't flown for years and was kind of nervous. I had purchased the VHS tape about a P-51 unit, my father-in-law, a former P-38 Mechanic 474th FG 428th FS, and I watched the tape the night before the flight. As we boarded early cuz we had a baby, I looked down the aisle a few rows there was a guy with his head buried in a book, my father-in-law recognized him right away and gave me a thumbs up, I knew the flight would be ok then! About an hour into the flight, it was potty time, and the line was gone so as I passed him, I said, "excuse me P-51's?" He looked up surprised and asked how did you know? I told him we watched the VHS tape the night before, He said it's out? They had done it as a fundraiser for his Fighter Group. He was the only pilot interviewed on the tape that got somewhat emotional when he mentioned how important the Ground Crews (like my father in law) were to the pilots, let alone even mentioning the ground crews.. Gave me his business card phone number and Address in Auburn CA. A great and gracious man, God Bless him and USAAF for what they endured for our freedoms.

[@recckkless]

this man still has the tone and inflection of someone from that time period and is 100 years old. love it

[@oldgoat6009]

Thank you sir for your service and for sharing your experiences.

[@Polarcutter]

I can’t even imagine.. God Bless these men 🙏

[@danlovett3697]

Forced to do things none of us will ever fully comprehend..... Smarter than all of us . Did what they had to , just to stay alive...They just wanted to see their families and loved ones again . They fought to come home . They fought to have a home to come back to . Calling them heros or legends isn't what they fought for . They just wanted to come home to the life they left ....Unfortunately , we still have to fight to maintain that lifestyle .... Nothing changes but the faces . Thank you , to you sir , and all those that fought with you and beside you to preserve what we have today . I love you , and them , for everything you preserved for us today . Semper Fi ....

[@Johnny.f.face1]

Thank you for listening to his entire story.

[@patrickkoch8619]

I had the pleasure / honor of flying with this gentleman on a B-17 about 14 years ago. I knew he was a WW2 pilot from talking with him, but I had no idea what a legend he really was.

[@birdtracs1863]

He lives up the road from me. He autographed his memoir for me. Long live Old Crow.

[@robertwilkinson8421]

Wish we had a President like this Man.

[@mikebunting7262]

So vote for Trump. Oops. He's a draft dodger.

[@richardpotter2288]

We are about to have a president as good . His name is Donald J Trump and he's about to be elected by a massive landslide. Bye bye Joe Biden !

[@larrynason8716]

What an amazingly articulate man. He certainly can not be 99 years old ! Wow! Thank you sir for your service. You are precisely what gave me such a great country to grow up in. Thank you, Thank you.

[@scograham]

What a legend. And he’s still with us today at 100 years old.

[@seanodwyer4322]

scot- whats his post address - ahh may post him

[@Cheka__]

I'll be he still knows how to put his coat on, too.

[@danmccalldesign]

A pleasure to hear your story, Sir. Grateful for your service.

[@tomsondles8950]

Wow!... Bud Anderson..LEGEND, HERO, GREAT AMERICAN...Thank you SIR

[@abdulmismail]

Absolutely love hearing stories from these veterans. Here in the UK, a colleague from Liverpool and his wife used to organise the BROHP (British Rocket Oral History Project). We used to have fighter pilots and test pilots showing up, including Royal Navy Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown and some of his stories were phenomenal. There was one where he told me and others of a "stalemate" encounter with a Focke Wulf. I believe he was flying a Hawker Sea Fury. After 10 to 15 minutes of dogfighting, they pulled aside one another. Both wiggled their wings and flew away in opposite directions.

[@Jack-bs6zb]

Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown flew more types of aircraft than ANY other pilot in the world. He flew the first landing on an aircraft carrier by a jet powered aircraft (a Supermarine Attacker which was also the first jet to cross the Atlantic).

[@abdulmismail]

@@Jack-bs6zb I recall he told us about a MiG-15 he flew. Many years later, the Soviet pilots said "are you crazy? You're not supposed to fly the aircraft like that!" after which he replied "how was I supposed to know. I can't understand Russian". Amazing. It was such a pleasure to have met him in person.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@Jack-bs6zb The first landing of a jet powered aircraft on a carrier was done about 2 weeks before Brown's landing by a USN ens flying a Ryan Fireball. Despite knowing this for years Brown continued to claim throughout his life that he was the first person to do it, but he wasn't, and he knew it.

[@michellebrown4903]

@@dukecraig2402 it can be argued that the Fireball was not a true jet. It had a normally aspirated propeller driven engine and a turbo jet in the rear .

[@JonathanAcostaArt]

Excellent interview. What an honor. These gentlemen's stories require more than one sit-down, obviously, but every experience they are willing to share is priceless.

[@Erikr-ex9dj]

True American Hero from the Greatest Generation ! God Bless the Col

[@tonydeaton1967]

Followed this gentleman for many years. I would recommend his book '' To Fight and Fly'', to anyone who's interested. Extremely interesting and insightful to the day to day life of a WW2 combat pilot.

[@adamwsaxe]

@@dannysmith634 I read it as a kid in the 90s. Very good.

[@patthoman1093]

Happy 100th birthday sir! You are a living legend. At 21:00 mins in he says "I got CRS" that is funny!!

[@daleburrell6273]

..."CRS"- "COLD ROLLED STEEL"(?)

[@tiberiusmaxwell9955]

Watching veterans speak about their experience is so interesting. Thank you for the content!

[@georgeblattner343]

This one of the coolest guys...thank you for your service...so awesome to listen.