Bud Anderson was born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, California. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on January 19, 1942, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field, Arizona, on September 29, 1942. His first assignment was flying P-39 Airacobra fighters with the 329th Fighter Squadron of the 328th Fighter Group at Hamilton Field and then at the Oakland Municipal Airport, California, from September 1942 to March 1943. Lt Anderson was then assigned to the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group at Tonopah, Nevada, in March 1943, moving to various bases in California from May to October 1943, then at Casper, Wyoming, from October to November 1943, and finally deploying to England in November 1943. He completed two tours in the European Theater, during which time he was credited with the destruction of 16.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 probables and 2 damaged, and 1 enemy aircraft on the ground while strafing an enemy airfield. Capt 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. He served as a recruiter until May 1948, when he transferred to the Flight Test Division with Headquarters Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Anderson served as a test pilot at Wright-Patterson and at Edwards AFB, California, from May 1948 to February 1953, and then at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from February 1953 to September 1954. He attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from September 1954 to August 1955, and then served as Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Osan AB, South Korean, from August 1955 to February 1956. Col Anderson was commander of the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing from February to August 1956, and then served as Executive Officer with the 6511th Parachute Test Group at NAAS El Centro, California, from August 1956 to November 1957. His next assignment was as Assistant Chief and then Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division at Edwards AFB from November 1957 to August 1962, followed by Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, from August 1962 to July 1963. He was Deputy Director of Flight Test and then Assistant Deputy for System Test at Edwards AFB from July 1963 to August 1965, followed by service as Deputy Director and then Director for Operations with the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from August 1965 to June 1967. Col Anderson was commander of the 18th TFW from June to December 1967, and then served another tour with Headquarters USAF in the Pentagon until December 1969. He next served as commander of the 355th TFW at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from June to December 1970, followed by service as Chief of the Aircraft Division with Material Command at McClellan AFB, California, until his retirement from the Air Force on February 29, 1972.
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His 1st (of 5) Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:
For extraordinary achievement and heroism in aerial combat and the destruction of three enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Captain Anderson has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Vietnam War/Defense Campaign (1965)
From Month/Year
March / 1965
To Month/Year
December / 1965
Description This period was from March 2, 1965-January 30, 1966.
On June 29. I966. the USAF bombed petroleum storage and distribution facilities for the first time in the immediate vicinity of Hanoi and Haiphong, after political leaders authorized limited and specific strikes within the buffer zones for these cities. Gen. William W. Momyer replaced General Moore as Seventh Air Force Commander on July l. The United States expanded the Rotuwo Tittmou campaign as of July 9 to include petroleum targets in the northeast and rail lines and highways between China and Hanoi. although the buffer zone on the border limited targets. American aircraft also flew armed reconnaissance over North Vietnam.
On July 30. 1966. the USAF bombed targets in the dernilitariaed zone (DMZ) to counter the build-up of North Vietnamese forces there. By September the U.S. air campaign against North Vietnam had destroyed or damaged two-thirds of the enemy's petroleum storage capacity. several thousand trucks and watercraft. hundreds of rail cars and bridges. and numerous ammunition and supply storage areas. Beginning on February 14. I967. USAF aircraft hit additional strategic targets in North Vietnam, knocking out major power plants. and railyard repair facilities. But these results had little effect on the enemy's ability to carry on the war. because the country possessed only a small industrial base and imported most of its military materiel. In the face of extensive air attacks. North Vietnam further strengthened it's air defenses. By January 1967, the United States had lost 45 aircraft within 2 years. Anti-aircraft guns and SAMs accounted for most of the losses. but MiGs continued to challenge U.S. air strikes.
On January 2 the Seventh Air Force enticed a large MiG-2| force over North Vietnam into battle against F-4s. The USAF pilots destroyed 7 MiGs within 12 minutes without a loss. Four days later. On January 6. the Seventh destroyed 2 more MiGs. and the North Vietnamese temporarily abandoned aerial combat to regroup and retrain. In South Vietnam Allied forces continued search and destroy operations. blunting new Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensives. Between July 14 and August 4, 1966. U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese troops battled North Vietnam Army forces near Quang Tri. 20 miles south of the DMZ. Later. between October I5 and November 26. the Allies engaged in a major battle with Viet Cong and NVA forces northwest of Tay Ninh. near the Cambodian border. 60 miles northwest of Saigon. Enemy resistance was light at first. but on November 4. as ARVN and U.S. troops approached storage areas, the Viet Cong and NVA counterattaclted. The Allies responded by airlifting more troops. including elements of the U.S. Army’s 1st. 4th, and 25th Infantry Divisions. and the l73rd Airborne Brigade. The USAF provided close air suppon. and between November 8 and 25. B-52s bombed targets in the area. The Allies drove the enemy from the region temporarily. seizing weapons. ammunition. food. and other supplies that the Communist forces left behind.
The next year. between Febmary and May I967, U.S. Army units joined ARVN forces to retum to Tay Ninh Province, about $0 miles north of Saigon and 15 miles northeast of Tay Ninh. Seventh Air Force C-l30s drtmped American paratroopers near the Cambodian border to cut off the Viet Cong retreat. The airlifters also flew reinforcements and supplies to the ground troops during this operation. With the help of forward air controllers flying O-1s. Air Force F-I00 and F-4 pilots provided close air support. and AC-47 gunship crews illuminated targets and conducted air strikes at night. Again, the enemy withdrew into Cambodia. leaving behind weapons. supplies. and ammunition.
In the panhandle of Laos, the USAF pounded enemy forces on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. while in northem Laos U.S. pilots supported Allied forces under attack. By August 1966 Laotian troops fighting Pathet Lao insurgents had advanced. with the aid of U.S. close air support. to Nam Bac. only 45 miles west of the North Vietnamese border and about 55 miles northeast of Luang Prabang. an ancient city on the Mekong River some 130 miles north of Vientiane. The Laotian gains were short lived, however, and by February 2. I967. the insurgents had regained lost territory and were in a position to attack the airfield at Luang Prabang.
