Brig. Gen. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, the last of America’s World War II triple aces, has died. He was 102.

Anderson died in his sleep Friday at his home in Auburn, Calif., his family said on his website: “Dad lived an amazing life and was loved by many. He was 102! Thank you for all your kind comments and messages.”

The California native was the last American triple ace from WWII, and the oldest living American fighter ace.

Anderson flew 116 combat missions over Europe as a fighter pilot and leader with the 357th Fighter Group during WWII. He shot down 16¼ German aircraft during combat in his P-51 Mustang, earning the title “triple ace.” The term ‘ace’ is used to describe a fighter pilot who has been credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft.

Anderson had the third-highest number of “kills” in the Army Air Forces’ 357th Fighter Group, whose three squadrons downed nearly 700 German aircraft, mostly while protecting American bombers on their missions over Europe, according to The New York Times.

He named his P-51s “Old Crow” after his favorite brand of whiskey. “For me, he represents all the guys he flew with,” retired Lt. Col. Jim Anderson, Bud’s son, said in December 2022 when Anderson was promoted to the honorary rank of brigadier general. “He’s the last of them.” Gen. Charles ”CQ” Brown presided over the ceremony at the Aerospace Museum of California, calling Anderson “kind of a wrecking ball of a guy.”

“For me, he represents all the guys he flew with,” retired Lt. Col. Jim Anderson, Bud’s son, said in December 2022 when Anderson was promoted to the honorary rank of brigadier general. “He’s the last of them.”

Gen. Charles ”CQ” Brown presided over the ceremony at the Aerospace Museum of California, calling Anderson “kind of a wrecking ball of a guy.”

Anderson served from 1942 to 1972. Some of his decorations include: two Legions of Merit, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals and the Bronze Star. After retiring from active duty, Anderson worked at the F-15 test facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

In his 30 years of military service, General Anderson flew more than 130 types of aircraft, logging some 7,500 hours in the air, according to The New York Times.

When World War II ended, he held the rank of major at 23 years old. When he retired from active duty in 1972, he was a colonel.