10 Facts About Rudolf Anderson

Rudolf Anderson was the first recipient of the Air Force Cross, the US military's and Air Force's second-highest award and decoration for valor.

The only US fatality by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Anderson was killed when his U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over Cuba.

Rudolf Anderson had previously served in Korea during the Korean War.

Rudolf Anderson entered the Air Force in November 1951 during the Korean War.

Rudolf Anderson began his operational career flying RF-86 Sabres and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses for reconnaissance missions after the war ended, when he was assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea and flying missions out of Komaki Air Base in Japan.

Rudolf Anderson was part of the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron, 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, headquartered at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

On July 26,2011, Anderson was inducted into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Alumni in a ceremony at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, officiated by Lieutenant General Allen G Peck, Commander, Air University.

Rudolf Anderson was the only combat death among the eleven U-2 pilots that flew over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis; the other ten pilots were each awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Some wreckage of Major Rudolf Anderson's aircraft is on display in three museums in Cuba.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross to Rudolf Anderson, Major, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command, from 15 October 1962 to 27 October 1962.