Rudolf Anderson Jr. '48 was "a regular fun-loving kid," born and raised in Greenville. He graduated from Greenville High School and enrolled in Clemson in 1944 where he majored in textiles and served in the Air Force R.O.T.C. By the end of his college career, he had earned a position in Clemson's elite Senior Platoon.
Anderson was also a natural athlete and played most sports in Clemson intramurals and in community leagues.
After he graduated from Clemson in 1948, he worked for a time in textiles. In 1951, he joined the Air Force where he served in the Korean War, flying F-86 saber jets. He earned two Distinguished Flying Cross citations during his service.
By 1955, he had begun U-2 training for the new high-altitude spy planes. These "super" planes were used for secret surveillance of military sites in other countries. And only the "best of the best" pilots were chosen to fly them.
In the fall of 1962, he proved he was exactly that and more.
Read more...