Reunion for 98-year-old WWII air aces, both 1939 Placer High grads

Believed to be the only U.S. air aces who were also high school classmates, Clarence "Bud" Anderson and Dean "Diz" Laird were reunited Friday in a celebration of Placer High heroes. Anderson, an Auburn resident, and Laird, who lives in Walnut Creek, were special guests of the Hillmen Foundation at the group's Friday Tailgater event at Central Square. From the square, the two World War II aces rode a vintage fire truck to the high school's LeFebvre Stadium, where they were introduced to the crowd before the Hillmen football game and given a long, appreciative ovation. The two, both 98, graduated from Auburn's Placer Union High School in 1939. Anderson grew up in Newcastle. Laird is originally from Loomis. Of the 1,500 American aces from World War I, World War II, the Korean, and Vietnam wars, fewer than 30 are alive today. Anderson and Laird are the only two aces that were high school classmates, a release from the booster group said. Anderson completed two tours of combat in Europe during World War II, flew 116 missions, and is credited with shooting down 16¼ enemy aircraft. "Ace" status signifies shooting down down five or more enemy aircraft. Laird also served in World War II and is the only Navy ace credited with aerial victories over both German and Japanese aircraft.