Rudolf Anderson

{{Infobox military person

|image=Rudolf Anderson.jpg

|caption=Major Rudolf Anderson, USAF

|birth_date= {{Birth date|1927|9|15}}

|death_date= {{Death date and age|1962|10|27|1927|9|15}}

|birth_place=Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.

|death_place=Near Banes, Cuba

|placeofburial=Woodlawn Memorial Park
Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.

|placeofburial_label=

|nickname=Rudy/Andy

|allegiance={{Flag|United States|name=United States of America|1960}}

|branch={{Air force|United States}}

|serviceyears=1951–1962

|rank=20px Major

|unit=4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command

|commands=

|battles=Korean War
Cuban Missile Crisis{{KIA}}

|awards=Air Force Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Purple Heart
Cheney Award

|alma_mater = Clemson University, B.S. 1948

|spouse = Frances Jane (Corbett) Anderson{{cite news |via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oW0pAAAAIBAJ&pg=7015%2C2017240 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Downed U2 Pilot's Funeral Set Today |date=November 6, 1962 |at=Page 3, columns 1-2 |access-date=April 29, 2024}}
(1935–1981)

|children = 2 sons, 1 daughter

|relations =

|laterwork =

}}

Rudolf Anderson Jr. (September 15, 1927 – October 27, 1962) was an American Air Force major and pilot. He was the first recipient of the Air Force Cross, the U.S. military's and Air Force's second-highest award and decoration for valor. The only U.S. fatality by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Anderson was killed when his U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over Cuba. He had previously served in Korea during the Korean War.

Early life and education

Anderson was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina near Greenville.{{cite web |url=https://scaaonline.com/hall_of_fame/major-rudolf-anderson-jr/ |title=Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. |website=South Carolina Aviation Association |department=Hall of Fame |access-date=27 April 2024}} He earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Boy Scout Troop 19 “America’s Troop 19” in Greenville and was a member of Recovery Lodge no. 31, Greenville's oldest Masonic Lodge. After graduating from Augusta Circle Elementary School in Greenville, he graduated from Greenville High School in 1944. In 1948, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Engineering from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina as a member of Air Force ROTC Detachment 770.{{cite book |author=Clemson Alumni Association |title=Clemson Alumni: Today 2008 |publisher=Harris Connect, Inc. |location=Chesapeake, Virginia |year=2007 |page=1813}}Ceremony program, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Alumni Induction, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, July 26, 2011, page 6. For the next three years, he was employed in Greenville.

Air Force career

He entered the Air Force in November 1951 during the Korean War. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952, Anderson completed Primary and Advanced pilot training and received his U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating as a pilot; he received his pilot wings in February 1953. He began his operational career flying RF-86 Sabres and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses for reconnaissance missions after the war ended, when he was assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea and flying missions out of Komaki Air Base in Japan. In April 1955, he returned to the United States. After qualifying on the U-2 on September 3, 1957, "he became the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing's top U-2 pilot with over one thousand hours, making him a vital part of the United States' reconnaissance operation over Cuba in late October of 1962."

=Cuban Missile Crisis=

Originally flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance missions over Cuba were taken over by the Air Force on October 14, 1962, using CIA U-2 aircraft that were repainted with USAF insignia. Anderson was part of the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron, 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, headquartered at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. On October 15, when CIA analysts studied reconnaissance film from the first 4080th overflight, they found SS-4 medium-range ballistic missiles. These pictures triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On Saturday, October 27, Anderson took off on his sixth mission over Cuba in a U-2F Dragon Lady (AF Serial Number 56-6676, former CIA Article 343), from a forward operating location at McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida.{{cite web |first=Michael J. |last=Tougias |author-link=Michael J. Tougias |date=October 27, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2024 |title=Forgotten Casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis |website=HistoryNet |url=https://www.historynet.com/forgotten-casualty-cuban-missile-crisis/}} A few hours into his mission, he was shot down over Banes, Cuba by one of two Soviet-supplied S-75 Dvina (NATO designation SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles that were fired at his aircraft by the orders of two Soviet generals, stationed in Havana.

"The loss of the U-2 over Banes was probably caused by intercept by an SA-2 from the Banes site, or pilot hypoxia, with the former appearing more likely on the basis of present information" stated a CIA document dated 0200 hrs, October 28, 1962.Central Intelligence Agency report – supplement 8 to Joint Evaluation of Soviet Missile Threat in Cuba, 0200 hours, October 28, 1962.{{cite web |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/dobbs/anderson_route.PDF |title=Supplement B to Joint Evaluation of Soviet Missile Threat in Cuba |website=www.gwu.edu |access-date=August 7, 2020 |at=Loss of U-2 Aircraft}} This would mean Anderson was killed when fragmentation from the exploding proximity warhead punctured his pressure suit, causing it to decompress at high altitude.

On October 31, Acting United Nations Secretary-General U Thant returned from a visit with Premier Fidel Castro and announced that Anderson was dead.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m20pAAAAIBAJ&pg=6287%2C27658 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=U2 pilot is dead |date=November 1, 1962 |page=1 |via=Google News}} His body was released by Cuba on Sunday, November 4,{{cite news |via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a0VjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1948%2C1022775 |work=Wilmington Morning Star |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |agency=(UPI photo) |title=Final rites |date=November 6, 1962 |page=1}} and he was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville two days later.{{cite news |via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bEVjAAAAIBAJ&pg=712%2C1238262 |work=Wilmington Morning Star |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |agency=UPI |title=Military rites held for U2 pilot killed on mission in Cuba |date=November 7, 1962 |page=11}}

By order of President John F. Kennedy, Anderson was posthumously awarded the first Air Force Cross, as well as the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Cheney Award. On July 26, 2011, Anderson was inducted into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Alumni in a ceremony at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, officiated by Lieutenant General Allen G. Peck, Commander, Air University.

Anderson was the only combat death among the eleven U-2 pilots that flew over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis; the other ten pilots were each awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.{{cite web |last=Dorr |first=Robert F. |author-link=Robert F. Dorr |title=U-2 Pilot Maj. Rudy Anderson: The Only American Killed During the Cuban Missile Crisis |date=October 20, 2012 |url=https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/u-2-pilot-maj-rudy-anderson-the-only-american-killed-during-the-cuban-missile-crisis/ |publisher=Defense Media Network |access-date=April 29, 2024}} Three reconnaissance-variant Boeing RB-47 Stratojets of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing crashed between September 27 and November 11, 1962, killing a total of 11 crewmembers.{{cite book |last=Lloyd |first=Alwyn T. |title=Boeing's B-47 Stratojet |publisher=Specialty Press |location=North Branch, Minnesota |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-58007-071-3 |page=178}} Seven more airmen died when a Boeing C-135B Stratolifter delivering ammunition to Naval Base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba stalled and crashed on approach on October 23.{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19621023-1 |website=Aviation Safety Network |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing C-135B Stratolifter 62-4136 Guantánamo NAS (NBW) |date=October 23, 1962}}

Wreckage

File:S-75 Dzwina RB2.jpg with V-750V 1D missile (NATO SA-2 Guideline) on a launcher. An installation similar to this one shot down Anderson's U-2 over Cuba.]]

Some of the wreckage of Major Anderson's aircraft is on display in three museums in Cuba. One of the engine intakes is at the Museo de la Lucha contra Bandidos in Trinidad. The engine and portion of the tail assembly from the U-2F is at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana. The right wing, a portion of the tail assembly, and front landing gear are at the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, or La Cabaña, Havana. The two latter groups of parts were previously displayed at the Museo del Aire, Havana.

Image:Engine u2.jpg|

The engine of the U-2F in the Museum of the Revolution in Havana.

Image:U-2-Intake.jpg|

One of the engine air intakes of the U-2F in the Museo de la Lucha contra los Bandidos in Trinidad.

Image:U2 Wreckage Apr 2002.jpg|

The underside of the right wing showing the U.S. national insignia, a portion of the tail assembly (right side of photo) and the front landing gear.

Image:Reconnaissance objectives in Cuba, 1962.JPG|

Reconnaissance objectives in Cuba, 1962.

Military awards

Anderson's military awards and decorations are as follows:{{cite web |url=http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=173 |title=Rudolf Anderson, Jr. |website=Veteran Tributes |access-date=27 April 2024}}

style="margin:1em auto;text-align:center;"

|colspan="3" |235px

colspan="3" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Cross ribbon|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|other_device=|name=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=KSMRib|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=AFEMRib|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;text-align:center;"

|colspan="3" |Senior Pilot Badge

colspan="3" |Air Force Cross

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

|Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 oak leaf clusters

|Purple Heart

Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster

|Presidential Unit Citation

|National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star

Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze star

|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

|Air Force Longevity Service Award with 1 oak leaf cluster

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

|United Nations Service Medal

|Republic of Korea War Service Medal

=Air Force Cross citation=

File:Air_Force_Cross_Medal.svg

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Rudolf Anderson, Major, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command (SAC), from 15 October 1962 to 27 October 1962. During this period of great national crisis, Major Anderson, flying an unescorted, unarmed aircraft, lost his life while participating in one of several aerial reconnaissance missions over Cuba. While executing these aerial missions, Major Anderson made photographs which provided the United States government with conclusive evidence of the introduction of long-range offensive missiles into Cuba and which materially assisted our leaders in charting the nation's military and diplomatic course. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Major Anderson reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Other awards, namings, memorials and recognitions

File:Major Rudolf Anderson Memorial.jpg

File:Major Anderson memorial, Laughlin AFB, TX.jpg

Anderson's other recognitions:

Cheney Award, 1962
Anderson Elementary School at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska was named for him in 1964.[https://www.k12northstar.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1069 Anderson Elementary]
The Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr. Squadron of the Arnold Air Society at Clemson University was named in his honor.{{Cite web |url=https://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/clemson-marks-anniversary-of-maj-rudolf-andersons-flight-during-military-appreciation-day/ |title=the Newsstand |access-date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205184123/http://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/clemson-marks-anniversary-of-maj-rudolf-andersons-flight-during-military-appreciation-day/ |url-status=dead }}
American Legion Post 214 in Greenville, South Carolina, was named after him in 2015.
A memorial to Anderson was erected and dedicated to him in 1963 at Cleveland Park in Greenville. No surplus U-2 aircraft were available at the time, so an F-86 Sabre like the ones he flew in Korea was used instead: North American YF-86H-1-NA Sabre, AF Ser. No. 52-1976.[http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=173 "Rudolf Anderson Jr."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811062423/http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=173 |date=August 11, 2010 }} at Veteran Tributes The memorial was redesigned, and it was rededicated on October 27, 2012, the 50th anniversary of Anderson's death.{{cite web|last=Burns|first=Amy Clarke|title=Rudolf Anderson memorial to get redesign|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20121013/NEWS/310130009/Rudolf-Anderson-memorial-get-redesign?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews|publisher=Greenville News|accessdate=October 12, 2012}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
The building for the 47th Operations Group at Laughlin AFB, Texas, was renamed "Anderson Hall" in 2001.
Anderson was inducted in the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008.[https://scaaonline.com/hall_of_fame/major-rudolf-anderson-jr/ South Carolina Aviation Association] [https://scaaonline.com/hall-of-fame-inductees/] [http://www.flykcub.com/?q=content/south-carolina-aviation-hall-fame-0]
Anderson was inducted into the Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame in 2019.[https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/Departments/main.asp?titleid=hofanderson Greenville County Schools]

Popular culture

The shooting down of Anderson's U-2 reconnaissance flight over Cuba is featured in the 2000 film Thirteen Days starring Kevin Costner; actor Charles Esten plays the role of Anderson.{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=David |title=Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon Shapes and Censors the Movies |date=2011 |publisher=Prometheus |isbn=9781615924516 |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UaqsJLzy870C&pg=PA19}}{{cite web |title=Chip Esten of TV series 'Nashville' to headline Riverfest |url=https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/entertainment/2015/07/27/chip-esten-tv-series-nashville-headline-riverfest/30728887/ |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=6 May 2020 |date=27 July 2015}}

References

Central Intelligence Agency report – supplement 8 to Joint Evaluation of Soviet Missile Threat in Cuba, 0200 hours, October 28, 1962.

External links

{{cite news |url=https://www.af.mil/News/story/storyID/123009509/ |website=United States Air Force |title=Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724024228/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009509 |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |department=News |date=January 3, 2005 |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2024}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.clemson.edu/military/twelfthday/index.html |title=The Twelfth Day |first=Liz |last=Newall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513052203/http://www.clemson.edu/military/twelfthday/index.html |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |publisher=Clemson University |department=Military Heritage |access-date=April 29, 2024}}
[http://www.clemsonwiki.com/wiki/Major_Rudolf_Anderson,_Jr. Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. on ClemsonWiki] by Mark Sublette from the Clemson Wiki website
{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillemasons.org/distinguished-brethren |title=Famous Masons of Greenville, South Carolina |website=Recovery Lodge No.31 AFM |access-date=April 29, 2024}}
{{Find a Grave|7553231}}

Category:1927 births

Category:1962 deaths

Category:American Korean War pilots

Category:American military personnel killed in action

Category:Aviators from South Carolina

Category:Aviators killed by being shot down

Category:Clemson University alumni

Category:Cuban Missile Crisis

Category:Decompression accidents and incidents

Category:Greenville Senior High School (Greenville, South Carolina) alumni

Category:Military personnel from South Carolina

Category:Military personnel killed in the Cold War