General Anderson flew three different P-51B model Mustangs during his first combat tour during World War II. During his second tour, he flew a P-51D model which was his favorite to fly. The P-51D model featured six 50-caliber machine guns and the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine which improved performance and handling. This powerful new engine provided 1,490 horsepower and could generate over 440 miles per hour top speed.

All of the aircraft General Anderson flew during his military career were named and painted “Old Crow.” Unlike other young World War II pilots of the time, he did not name his plane after his wife or girlfriend because he was single at the time. Instead, Anderson named his aircraft after the cheapest bourbon whiskey brand available at the time, Old Crow. Anderson charmingly recollects, “For all of my church-going friends, I told them that “Old Crow” was named after the smartest bird in the sky. But all my drinking buddies knew that it was named after that smooth Kentucky whiskey.”