Bud Anderson is a flyer's flyer.The Californian's enduring love of flying began in the 1920s with the planes that flew over hisfather's farm. In January 1942, he entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. Laterafter he received his wings and flew P-39s, he was chosen as one of the original flight leaders ofthe new 357th Fighter Group. Equipped with the new and deadly P-51 Mustang, the groupshot down five enemy aircraft for each one it lost while escorting bombers to targets deep insideGermany. But the price was high. Half of its pilots were killed or imprisoned, including some ofBud's closest friends.In February 1944, Bud Anderson, entered the uncertain, exhilarating, and deadly world of aerialcombat. He flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe in less than a year. In battles sometimesinvolving hundreds of airplanes, he ranked among the group's leading aces with 16 1⁄4 aerialvictories. He flew 116 missions in his old crow without ever being hit by enemy aircraft or turningback 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 wasa 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 upin 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 testssuch as these.Bud commanded a squadron of F-86 jet fighters in postwar Korea, and a wing of F-105s onOkinawa during the mid-1960s. In 1970 at age 48, he flew combat strikes as a wing commanderagainst communist supply lines.To Fly and Fight is about flying, plain and simple: the joys and dangers and the very special skillsit demands. Touching, thoughtful, and dead honest, it is the story of a boy who grew up living his dream.Updated Edition contains, two new Forewords, an addendum and forty new photos.

A fun memior about one of the fighter excorts over Europe. He flew with and became friends with Chuck Yeager (who wrote the forward) and after WWII he was a test pilot for the Air Force. Later he flew combat missions in Vietnam. He was told he was to old to make General and retired after 30 years of service. ( )

Simply the best! ( )