Robert Anderson; WWII pilot shared tales of adventure

Robert Anderson was a man of many talents and interests. As a youngster growing up in San Diego, he enjoyed surfing, dove hunting and horseback riding. As a college student, he played football. As a young man, he joined the Marines and was a fighter pilot during World War II. He played piano and enjoyed golfing and drawing, often sketching caricatures for friends and family.

During his military service, which included more than 30 years in the Marine Corps Reserves, he flew several generations of fighter planes, from biplanes to supersonic jets. He loved flying and the stories he shared of wartime adventures included a mission escorting bombers over the Japanese island of Kyushu during World War II.

After being hit with anti-aircraft fire, he was supposed to bail out and await rescue. As the story goes, he jettisoned the canopy of his aircraft and was preparing to bail out when he realized that Japanese pilots were still shooting at him so he chose to stay with the plane and flew it back to his base in Okinawa, landing a plane with no canopy, no landing gear and shot full of holes.

Friends and family said he didn’t boast about his adventures and accomplishments but he would happily tell his stories when asked. In 2007, he was proud to be profiled at the San Diego County Fair’s “Salute to Heroes” exhibit and spent several days at the fair, sitting next to his exhibit and greeting visitors.

Mr. Anderson died of heart failure Oct. 29 at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla. He was 91.

After the war, Mr. Anderson spent most of his adult life in Northern California where he worked on early television shows and later, after earning a law degree, he was a hearing officer for the state Board of Equalization where he heard tax cases.

His penchant for wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat with his suits earned him the nickname of the “Cowboy Judge” while his common sense and legal expertise earned him the respect of his colleagues. Although he lived in Davis for many years, Mr. Anderson traveled to San Diego often and lobbied to be assigned all of the Board of Equalization’s San Diego cases. His granddaughter, Allie Dixon, said he came to town at least one week a month for years. He moved to San Diego in 2004. “He had the best attitude,” Dixon said. After moving to Del Mar, Mr. Anderson became involved with the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and Aviation Museum. “He liked coming here,” said Chuck Meadows, office manager. “He was a very quiet, dignified guy who was open and articulate when he got to talking about (his service).”

Robert Henry Anderson was born May 11, 1918, in West Hartford, Conn., to Esther and Carl Henry Anderson. He was 5 when the family moved to San Diego where his father, a builder, saw an opportunity to construct homes. He graduated from Hoover High School, where he was quarterback of the football team.

He attended what was then San Diego State College and was quarterback of the freshman team, playing in the first game held in the Aztec Bowl, where Cox Arena now sits, Dixon said. He also played football at the University of California Davis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry. He had declared a preveterinary course of study but after the war he did other work before earning his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.

He married the former Ruth Edlefsen of Davis in 1942 and the couple had three daughters. While living in Davis, Mr. Anderson often served as the announcer at football games for Davis High School and UC Davis.

Mr. Anderson is survived by his daughters, Kristine Pyeatt of New Mexico, Katherine Dixon of Solana Beach and Candace Anderson of Davis; a brother, James Anderson of Spokane, Wash.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2006.

A military burial will be held April 2 at Arlington National Cemetery.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/10/robert-anderson-wwii-pilot-shared-tales-adventure/