Costa Mesa historian dies

Paul Clinton

World War II pilot and local historian Alvin “Bud” Anderson died

Saturday at his Huntington Beach home. He was 84.

Anderson was a familiar face at the Costa Mesa Historical Society,

where he volunteered three days a week for more than a decade. He

died of complications from a heart attack after an extended illness.

“Bud was a real prince, a hard worker and committed to Costa

Mesa’s history,” said Orange County Treasurer John Moorlach, who

served with Anderson on the historical society’s board. “He’ll be

missed.”

Since 1988, Anderson volunteered nearly 30 hours a week at the

historical society. He was known as the primary expert on the Santa

Ana Army Air Base, which existed on property now occupied by the

Orange County Fairgrounds.

Between 1942 and 1946, Anderson was stationed at the 1,336-acre

air base as an aviation cadet. The base stretched from Baker Street

to Harbor Boulevard on the west and from Wilson Street to Newport

Boulevard on the east. The area was not part of Costa Mesa until

1953, when the city incorporated.

For 12 weeks during World War II, Anderson was stationed as a

fighter pilot in Europe. Anderson flew 24 combat missions in France

as a member of the 425th Night Fighter squadron.

In his last decade, Anderson was known to regale visitors to the

historical society’s museum, which is in a one-story building near

Triangle Square. He also led tours of the center.

In the last few weeks, Anderson spoke out in favor of the troops

fighting in Iraq.

“These are very difficult jobs to do,” he said in a March 28 Daily

Pilot story. “They train very hard to do this.”

Anderson is survived two daughters, Jane Hipp and Lynn Adams, and

three grandsons. Anderson’s wife, Monica, died April 18, 1982.

Memorial services for Anderson are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Dilday Mortuary in Huntington Beach. Dilday is at 17911 Beach

Blvd., near Talbert Avenue. Visitation hours will be between 2 and 9

p.m. today.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].