Colonel (Honary Bigadier-General) Clarence E. (Bud) Anderson was  Born in 1922 in Oakland, California,  Clarence "Bud" Anderson enlisted in the Army’s Aviation Cadet Program in January 1942 and was commissioned at Luke Field, Arizona, that September.  Between November 1943 and January 1945, Anderson flew 116 combat missions with the 357th Fighter Group, also known as “Yoxford Boys. In that time, the group destroyed over 600 enemy aircraft and produced 42 aces, including Anderson, who earned his triple ace title for destroying more than 16 enemy aircraft.  During this time Anderson was a close friend of Brigadier General Chuck Yeager.

Anderson returned to the U.S. in January 1945, serving at Perrin Field, Texas, until October 1945, when he was assigned as a recruiter in Ohio. Anderson served as a test pilot at Wright Field from May 1948 to February 1953. During this time, he took part in the Ficon  project, a concept to increase the effective combat radius of jet fighters by attaching them to a propeller-driven bomber, one hooked up to each wingtip. The hope was that it would not only increase fuel efficiency and effective range, but also allow the bomber to carry its own fighter escort deep into enemy territory.

Anderson attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base Alabama, from September 1954 to August 1955, and then was assigned as Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Osan Air Base Air Base, South Korea, from August 1955 to February 1956 and commander of the 69th Fighter-Bomber squadron from February to August 1956.Anderson continued serve as test pilot and was assigned as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division at Edwards Air Force Base from November 1957 to August 1962. He attended the army War College at Carlisle Barracks Pennsylvania  from August 1962 to July 1963.^]From June to December 1970, he commanded the 355 th Tactical Fighter Wing during its final months of service in the Vietnam War.  while  Stationed at Takhil Royal Thai Air Force base .Anderson  flew strikes against enemy supply lines, and later was in charge of closing the base when 355th TFW was inactivated.Anderson retired as a colonel in March 1972. He was decorated 25 times for his service to the United States. During his career, he flew over 100 types of aircraft and logged over 7,000 hours. On 2 Dec, 2022, Bud was given an honorary promotion to Brigadier General at the Aerospace Museum of California.   As of today June 2, 2023 I believe we are lucky to have this American here among us.   

To Fly and Fight  Memoirs of a Triple ace by Colonel Clarence E. (Bud) Anderson is in NEW condition.  Purchased and copy right 1990 this book has been stored.

Additional Signatures
Jim Brooks (Major) scoring 13 and a half victories
Bob Goebel (Lieutenant Colonel) 11 Victory Ace   
Thomas Lloyd Hayes  (Brigadier General)  10 1/2 victories
Pete Peterson  (Major)  1 5 1/2 victories