In honor of the 75th D-Day Anniversary, Ford and Roush Performance salute World War II flying ace Col. Bud Anderson with a one-off “Old Crow” Mustang GT, inspired by the P-51 Mustang airplanes Anderson flew in combat.
On D-Day, Anderson provided aerial support for Allied troops in his P-51 Mustang for more than six consecutive hours and was never hit by enemy fire.
Anderson served as a triple ace fighter pilot and has earned more than 25 decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Air Medal. He flew two tours with the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group and is recognized as the third leading ace with 16 aerial victories. In total, he has flown 116 missions in P-51 Mustangs, which he nicknamed “Old Crow.”
“This year’s design is especially fitting for the 75-year commemoration of D-Day and the special place we reserve for heroes like Col. Anderson and countless others who demonstrated unparalleled valor and sacrifice,” said Craig Metros, Ford design director.
The Old Crow Ford Mustang GT adorns an authentic paint scheme and badging similar to the P-51 Mustang Anderson flew. Powered by a Roush / Ford Performance supercharger, the Mustang produces 700+ heart-pounding horsepower and features the signatures of Roush Enterprises Founder Jack Roush, Edsel Ford II, members of the Ford design team and Anderson.
The car will be auctioned July 25 at “The Gathering” annual auction during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2019 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. All proceeds from the sale benefit the EAA foundation, which educates and encourages the next generation of pilots.
To learn more about Experimental Aircraft Association, Aviation Foundation, youth programs and AirVenture, including bidding on the “Old Crow” Ford Mustang GT, visit the Experimental Aircraft Association webpage.
