1 Rudolph Anderson, Jr. “The Greenville pilot who altered history…” Julia, Lia, Katie Beth, and Sara.

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Rudolph Anderson, Jr.

“The Greenville pilot who altered history…”

Julia, Lia, Katie Beth, and Sara

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Flight Schedule:

Title Page 1

Table of contents 2

Biography 3

After High School 4

JFK calls on Anderson 5

Greenville News Article 6

Report of overdue plane 7

JFK’s letter to Rudy’s wife 8

Quotes About Rudy 9

Accomplishments 10

Senior Quote 11

Bibliography 12

Bibliography Continued 13

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Rudolph Anderson, son of a World War I veteran, was born on September 15, 1927. He grew up on Tomassee Avenue in Greenville, South Carolina. His friends all called him “Rudy.” He went to Augusta Circle, and enjoyed playing with the younger kids in his neighborhood and allowing them to watch him shoot model rockets.

While not being a very big boy, he enjoyed playing softball as a center-fielder for Augusta Road Baptist Church and Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, as well as participating in Boy Scout Troop #19. At GHS he was a member of the Model Airplane Club. He also was a manager for the state championship football team.

Biography

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After High School...From GHS, he participated in the ROTC program at Clemson University, where he majored in textiles. After graduation, he

worked in accounting at Dunean Mill before entering the Air Force. He became a US Air Force Major, and was known as one of the

best U2 flyers in the Air Force.The first combat experience for Anderson came in the Korean War when he flew the F-86 Sabrejet. He married Frances Jane Corbett and had

three children.

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JFK calls upon Anderson:JFK received word that Russia was storing nuclear

weapons in Cuba. For thirteen days the United States entered the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time during which

JFK did all he could to prevent war with Russia. Anderson was summoned, as well as one other U2

pilot, to fly over Cuba and take pictures of the weapons aimed at the United States.

On the 12th Day…Rudolph Anderson Jr. was shot down and killed by a

Russian missile on October 27, 1962; however, the pictures he took led to America’s success in avoiding

war.

JFK received word that Russia was storing nuclear weapons in Cuba. For thirteen days the United States entered the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time during which

JFK did all he could to prevent war with Russia. Anderson was summoned, as well as one other U2

pilot, to fly over Cuba and take pictures of the weapons aimed at the United States.

On the 12th Day…Rudolph Anderson Jr. was shot down and killed by a

Russian missile on October 27, 1962; however, the pictures he took led to America’s success in avoiding

war.

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““One plane is overdue and several One plane is overdue and several are said to have encountered ground are said to have encountered ground

fire.”- Secretary McNamara to the fire.”- Secretary McNamara to the Executive Committee of the National Executive Committee of the National Security Council on October 27, 1962Security Council on October 27, 1962

““One plane is overdue and several One plane is overdue and several are said to have encountered ground are said to have encountered ground

fire.”- Secretary McNamara to the fire.”- Secretary McNamara to the Executive Committee of the National Executive Committee of the National Security Council on October 27, 1962Security Council on October 27, 1962

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JFK’s letter to Anderson’s wife:

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Quotes about Rudy

• “I was always interested in aviation but never got very far except fixing airplanes and flying around here and there. He did the things I always wanted to do… I’ve never known a real hero. I wish I’d known the man.” –Jack Parillo, researcher for The Greenville News

• “ Oh, he was so handsome, or maybe he wasn’t. We just loved him so we thought he was.” – Annelle Powell Locke, friend

• “ He would never talk about his medals, he would just tell my mother ‘don’t worry’.” - Elizabeth Martin, sister

• “ He was a daredevil. We’d go through that underpass down in Cleveland Park. He’d never stop and see if anything was coming. It was always go.”- John Chiles, friend

• “ I’ve gotten in and out of them so far, but some day I’m not going to.” - Rudolph Anderson Jr.

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• Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.• Received the Purple Heart.• Received the first ever awarded Air Force Cross.• Received the nation’s highest peacetime honor, the

Distinguished Service Medal.• Some still believe that he should receive the Medal of

Honor and continue to fight for this honor today.• A F-86 Sabre Jet stands in Cleveland Park in to honor

his life.

Accomplishments

Air Force Cross Rewarded to

Anderson

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Anderson’s Senior quote in the GHS yearbook:

“Good humor is the clean, blue sky of

the soul.”

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Annotated BibliographyBrooks, Jeanne. "Piloting a hero home." 7 October 2002. Online Internet. 10 November

2002. <http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/10/27/rudolfanderson.htm>This talked about the various initiatives and efforts to make this man known and to put a plane in Cleveland Park.

"Greenville Pilot Is First Casualty." 28 October 1962. Online Internet. 10 November .<http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/10/27/rudolfanderson.htm>

Gave a view of the background and of the crisis in Cuba.Richardson-Moore, Deb. "Pilot's friends remember life before missile crisis." 17 May

1999. Online Internet. 10 November 2002. <http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/10/27/rudolfanderson.htm>

Gave the info on where he played volleyball and on the various schools that he went to."Summary Record of the Eighth Meeting of the Executive Committee of the National

Security Council." 27 October 1962. Online Internet. 10 November 2002.<http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/10/27/rudolfanderson.htm>

This is the report of his death to the Council.

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Bibliography Cont.

27 October 2002. Online Internet. 10 November 2002. <http://www.cs.umb.edu/jfklibrary/cmc_exhibit_2002.html> This is the site where the letter from JFK to Anderson's wife was foundOnline Internet. 10 November 2002. <http://people.clemson.edu/~arndair/> This is where pictures of Clemson and Anderson were found.Online Internet. 10 November 2002. <http://www.nocastro.com/atrocities/muertos.htm> This is where a profile of Anderson and info about the Cuban Missile Crisis.Online Internet. 10 November 2002. <http://soundamerica.com/sounds/themes/movies> This is where both of the sound bits were found.The Nautilus. 1943. His Junior Picture was found and used.The Nautilus. 1944. His senior quote and team manager picture was found.