To Fly and Fight

Memoirs of a Triple Ace

By: Clarence E. Bud Anderson

Narrated by: Joshua Katinger

Bud Anderson is a flyers flyer. The Californians enduring love of flying began in the 1920s with the planes that flew over his father's farm. In January 1942, he entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program.

Later after he received his wings and flew P-39s, he was chosen as one of the original flight leaders of the new 357th Fighter Group. Equipped with the new and deadly P-51 Mustang, the group shot down five enemy aircraft for each one it lost while escorting bombers to targets deep inside Germany. But the price was high. Half of its pilots were killed or imprisoned, including some of Buds closest friends.

In February 1944, Bud Anderson, entered the uncertain, exhilarating, and deadly world of aerial combat. He flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in less than a year. In battles sometimes involving hundreds of airplanes, he ranked among the groups leading aces with 16 aerial victories. He flew 116 missions in his old crow without ever being hit by enemy aircraft or turning back for any reason, despite one life or death confrontation after another.

His friend Chuck Yeager, who flew with Anderson in the 357th, says, In an airplane, the guy was a mongoose...the best fighter pilot I ever saw.

Bud's years as a test pilot were at least as risky. In one bizarre experiment, he repeatedly linked up in midair with a B-29 bomber, wingtip to wingtip. In other tests, he flew a jet fighter that was launched and retrieved from a giant B-36 bomber. As in combat, he lost many friends flying tests such as these.Bud commanded a squadron of F-86 jet fighters in postwar Korea, and a wing of F-105s on Okinawa during the mid-1960s. In 1970 at age 48, he flew combat strikes as a wing commander against communist supply lines.

To Fly and Fight is about flying, plain and simple: the joys and dangers and the very special skills it demands. Touching, thoughtful, and dead-honest, it is the story of a boy who grew up living his dream.

©1990, 2011, 2019 Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson (P)2023 Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson

Critic reviews

Richard Hallion, The Air Force Historian, says: "It is, I think, the finest pilot memoir of World War II, and I have made it mandatory reading for all my historians."

Ernest K Gann says: "To Fly & Fight is one hell of a reading excitement, It gallops boldly through hostile skies and still takes moments to bring us the incomparable beauties aloft."

Stephen Coonts says: "A terrific book that deserves a place of honor on every pilot's bookshelf."

You will like it

If you are searching for this type of book, then you have found it. I bought the autographed hard copy after listening.

A life of honor and service

I am always amazed that whenever America is at a crisis men such as Bud Anderson are there. I enjoyed learning about his life before, during and especially after World war II. He had tremendous success as a pilot, as an airman, as a leader and especially as a family man. Truly a wonderful story of a great American!

Aviation history.

A great brook on WWII aviation as well as the development of the Air Force and the advance of military technology.

Incredible bio with great details

If you’re into aviation, this is worth a listen just based on the contents of the book. Sure, the narration could be a little better but it’s still a good audiobook if you don’t have the time to read.

McClellan

I’ve met the general at the museum at my “home” base, McClellan AFB. I’ve read a lot of these memoirs and this one is the best. Fly safe, Sir!
- Daniel