Museum Café Honors World War II Fighter Pilot

MCCLELLAN, CA (MPG) - California Aerospace Museum’s Old Crow Café does not serve crow of any vintage. Closest item on the menu is chicken Caesar salad. But museum management last week had plenty to crow about when famed WW II veteran C.E. (Bud) Anderson declared the café open.  Adding ribbon-cutting to his many triumphs, the greatest generation hero laughed at a restaurant being named for the P-51 Mustang he flew over Germany.

“I used to say we named Old Crow in honor of one of the most intelligent birds in the sky,” said the 99-year-old. “But – for all my former drinking buddies – I can say it was named for good old sour mash Kentucky Bourbon. It wasn’t a top-shelf brand, but in those days, it was all we pilots could afford.”

The “ace” honorific is generally ascribed to wartime pilots who down five enemy aircraft. Anderson is one of the few aviators to achieve triple-ace legend. In the final year of the war, he and his Mustang vanquished 16 and a quarter enemy planes (the quarter-kill came from the defeat -- shared with four fellow fighters -- of a low-flying Luftwaffe bomber).

A model of Anderson’s famous Mustang graced the café opening at McClelland. Retired Cal Trans planner Jerry Severson fashioned the one-third size replica from wood and aluminum. “I worked 1300 hours on it, as a tribute to Bud Anderson,” explained Severson, who trots the mini-Mustang out for patriotic parades and civic events. “I’d read about his exploits and I loved his never-say-die pilot spirit. I’d never dreamed I’d meet him. But it turned out he lived less than a mile from me in Auburn. First time I saw Bud was when a statue was being dedicated to him at Auburn airport. He saw my airplane, came right over and asked where I wanted him to sign it. He’ll talk to a 90-year-old veteran or a six-year-old kid and show them the same respect. Despite what he’s done, he’s the nicest, most humble man you ever know.”

Few so humble can garner groupies. In recent years, Aerospace Museum supporter Kelly Kreeger recruited dozens of kids to form the Bud Anderson Super-Fan Club. These aviation buffs regularly show up to applaud their hero at the many civic events he graces. Kelly Kreeger also assembled a massive collection of items relating to the pilot’s stellar career. After she died in an aircraft accident last year, her estate bequeathed this trove to the museum she loved.  Much Kreeger Bud-abilia decorates the new café.

“Kelly strongly believed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education,” said museum director Tom Jones.  “She was one of the museum’s greatest volunteers and supporters. It’s wonderful we’ve got her artifacts together in the café. It’s a priceless opportunity to honor Kelly’s legacy and Bud’s legacy at same time.”

Some honors will be edible. “We’re gonna name sandwiches for both of them,” predicted Tom Jones. “And we’re planning a special Bud Anderson plate.”

Admission to the California Aerospace Museum is not required to sample Old Crow cuisine. Located at 3200 Freedom Park Drive, McClelland, the café is open Thursday through Sunday, from 9 am to 3 pm. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the facility caters to group events. For information, call (916) 643-3192.