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Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 9:04 pm

Quote:

Are there any aviation legends you DO like Jack?

Yes, I few :!:

Here's one in particular. I wrote Bud Anderson when I was 10 or so and asked for his autograph around 1974 or thereabouts.
He wrote me a very nice letter and sent me 2 autographed 8 x 10 photos.

Capt CE "Bud" Anderson 363rd FS 357th FG 1944

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 9:18 pm

You hit the nail on the head man. I had the honor of interviewing him for the NMUSAF. He was so easy going, and pleasant to talk to. I talked to him for an hour! During which he told me a story about the ground crew staying up all night to strip the O.D. paint off of Old Crow so that it would be back to Bare metal and not stick out. He acutally got teared up talking about the event. Then during the Mustang Gathering, I mentioned how I would love to get a pic of us together with a Mustang, and he said, "Here is my cell phone number give me a call and we will make it happen!" What a guy. Also Jack, so you know, I was jsut kidding you with that comment in the other thread.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 9:33 pm

To further that story.
He made a offhand comment to his ground crew that winter was upon them and the OD paint should probably come off someday because he'll stick out against the snowy landscape like a sore thumb. He didn't give it a second thought but the next morning it was all stripped and ready to go. His guys had stayed up all night and stripped it with avgas and their hands were raw and bloody from the effort.

ww2John · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 7:03 am

Bud is the genuine article, the real deal, insert your highest praise line here.
He certainly had a varied and interesting career in service to our country, and not just in combat. I don't remember all the details, (in the AAHS Journal) but his involvement in the testing of the wingtip-to-wingtip coupled "ficon" fighter-escort program seemed pretty harrowing just from reading the reports.
When I asked Bud about that, he made an awful face and then politely said something along the lines of "a truly bad idea".
He has been unfailingly polite everytime I have seen him and often seems a little bemused at all the attention he gets at airshows & other public gatherings.
A true gentleman and a true hero.

Cripes A Mighty · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2008 7:56 am

ww2John wrote:

Bud is the genuine article, the real deal, insert your highest praise line here.
He has been unfailingly polite everytime I have seen him and often seems a little bemused at all the attention he gets at airshows & other public gatherings.
A true gentleman and a true hero.

Very true statement, he is a very nice gentleman.

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