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By Jessica Laskey Out & About

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chief of staff of the Air Force, presided over the ceremony before 200 attendees. Brown called the 101-year-old Anderson a “wrecking ball” of a pilot.

“The impact you had on the history of our Air Force reminds me how fortunate we are to stand on the shoulders of gentlemen like you, and those other ladies and men who have served within our Air Force to make us great,” Brown said.

Anderson began his career at McClellan Air Force Base. During World War II, the fighter pilot flew 116 combat missions escorting bombers into German-occupied Europe. He earned his triple ace status after shooting down 16 enemy aircraft during two tours from 1944 to 1945.

Anderson flew several different P-51 Mustangs, all of which he named “Old Crow” after the cheapest bourbon