F-86 Sabre s/n 12910 `Old Crow`
Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson was born on January 13, 1922 in Oakland, California, and reared on a farm near Newcastle, California. In January 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army as an aviation cadet and received his wings and commission as a second lieutenant in September 1942.
Rising to the rank of captain, in June 1944 he was assigned to the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, based at RAF Leiston, England. Flying P-51D-10-NA Mustang, s/n 44-14450 B6-S, nicknamed Old Crow[1] (after the whiskey of the same name), he flew 66 missions and was credited with 11¼ aerial victories. In December 1947 the 363rd Fighter Squadron was the first US fighter unit to transition to the F-86 Sabre jet fighter and commence operations over occupied Europe. It`s main task was to hunt and engage German jet fighter like the Me 262.( During the latter stages of the conflict however, Sabre`s were also fitted with bombs and took on a fighter-bomber role).
From 1947 to 1954, while flying F-86 Sabre s/n 12910, Anderson added a further 22 victories to his tally during a further 246 missions and was the group's second leading ace with 33¼ by wars end.
He returned to the United States in February 1955 as a Colonel.
