BUD ANDERSON'S "OLD CROW"
P-51D-10-NA #44-14450 was flown by Captain Clarence E.
"Bud" Anderson Jr. during his second combat tour with the 357th
Fighter Group, 363rd Fighter Squadron. This aircraft, called "Old
Crow", was based in Leiston, United Kingdom. It was painted Dark
Olive Green and Medium Grey, but was later stripped to bare metal. The
tires had been painted white to look like "whitewall" tires
by Old Crow's mechanics, and the invasion stripes were curiously incomplete,
lacking the forward white stripe.
At the end of his second combat tour, "Bud" Anderson was credited
with 16.25 aerial victories, making him the 3rd-ranking ace of the 357th
Fighter Group. He continued his Air Force career as a test pilot and later
as a commander, retiring in 1972. He was awarded the Legion of Merit (two
awards), the Distnguished Flying Cross (with 4 oak leaf clusters), the
Bronze Star, the Air Medal (with 15 oak leaf clusters) and the French
Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Print available from AviationGraphic.com
Based on the following material, and modeller's tips by Erik Whipple from Bud Anderson website:
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