By Barbara A. Schmitz

A life-size bronze statue of retired Brig. Gen. C.E. “Bud” Anderson was unveiled Tuesday in the Warbirds area at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The work of sculptor Douglas Van Howd, the statue of Bud in his flying uniform is in the garden and next to the museum that honors the World War II triple ace that was dedicated the year before.

Bud died in May 2024 at the age of 102. He had been a frequent speaker at Warbirds in Review for decades.

Warbirds of America Board Director Connie Bowlin thanked the donors and board members for their support and said that Bud “was a very good friend for a very long time” and had “sacrificed so much for all of us” during the war.

In addition, she thanked Kyle Guyette and Scott Guyette for creating a video of Bud’s life, accomplishments, and his funeral, including his burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Connie also thanked Bud’s son, Jim, who has donated some of his father’s artifacts to the museum, including his WWII foot locker.

“Should I give Dad’s short talk or his long one?” Jim said as he started his remarks during the ceremony. “His short one would be ‘thank you,’ and his long one would be ‘thank you very much.’ But I think I’ll speak longer than that.”

Jim said he and his sister, as well as their children and grandchildren, are thankful for the donors who made this museum and garden a fitting tribute to Bud.

Jim said his father came to nearly every AirVenture to present at Warbirds in Review. “He enjoyed being here and loved the people. … I know he influenced a lot of people to get started in aviation.”

After he helped uncover the statue, he saluted his father.

Theresa Eaman sang “I’ll Be Seeing You” as Bud’s statue was unveiled, since Bud requested she sing it every time he was here.

The Warbirds of America Museum will be open daily during AirVenture in the Warbirds area. It is located at the west end of the Warbirds merchandise building.

Photo captions:

Theresa Eaman sings “I’ll Be Seeing You” to end the ceremony. The song was a favorite of Bud’s, and he requested she sing it every time he was in Oshkosh.

A jumbotron showed a video of retired Brig. Gen. C.E. “Bud” Anderson’s life during the statue dedication ceremony. On screen is his wife, Ellie Anderson, and Old Crow, a replica of the airplane Bud flew in WWII, was prominent during the ceremony.

Connie Bowlin and Jim Anderson work to untangle the last of the cover over the life-size bronze statue of retired Brig. Gen. C.E. “Bud” Anderson Tuesday.