Reaching the century mark in life would be accomplishment enough for most people — but apparently not for the last surviving American “triple ace” fighter pilot of World War II.
Retired Force Col. Clarence “Bud” Anderson will receive an honorary promotion to brigadier general by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. in a ceremony at the Aerospace Museum of California on Friday.
A flying ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat. At 100 years old, Col. Anderson is one of only 14 living U.