The Original "Old Crow"

Col. Bud Anderson's airborne reunion with a P-39Q Airacobra,The evening sun was low on the horizon as John Cyrier taxied toward the Commemorative Air Force's (CAF's) ramp at San Marcos, Texas on July 28. He had just completed the final leg of a four-stop flight home from AirVenture 2022 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Cyrier pivoted the Central Texas Wing's P-39Q around to the right, braked to a stop, and cut power to the fighter's Allison V-1710 V-12 engine. Just after its 11-foot, seven-inch Aeroproducts propeller swung to a stop, he shot both arms through the P-39's rolled-down cockpit door windows, clenched his fists, and yelled an exultant "Yeeeaaah!"

- JAN TEGLER

Cyrier had just realized a dream three years in the making, reuniting America's highest ranking, living ace, Col. Clarence Bud” Anderson, with a tribute to the airplane he first dubbed Old Crow.”

Before Anderson went to combat in England with the 357th Fighter Group and scored 16.25 kills in Band D-model P-51 Mustangs wearing his famed Old Crow" livery, he flew another fighter—the Bell P-39 Airacobra.

Shortly after earning his U.S. Army Air Force wings and commission in September, 1942, Anderson received orders to the 328th Fighter Group at Hamilton Field near San Francisco to train in the P-39 at Oakland Municipal Airport. After three months, he was chosen to be among a cadre of officers forming a new group for combat, the 357th Fighter Group.

Initially, the Group trained at Tonopah, Nevada, practicing formation flight, gunnery, dive-bombing, and dogfighting, flying as much as 100 hours per month. New pilots, including Chuck Yeager, joined the unit throughout its time at Tonopah.

Anderson was made a flight leader in the 363rd Fighter Squadron, flying Dand later Q-model Airacobras as the Group made its way from Tonopah to bases in Santa Rosa and Oroville, California then Casper, Wyoming before leaving its P-39s behind and sailing for England in November 1943.

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