Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. Memorial

Born and raised in the Greenville area, Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. is nothing short of a local hero. He had established an illustrious and decorated career in the Air Force, but while flying a reconnaissance mission over Cuba on October 27, 1962, his plane was shot down. The Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. Memorial was dedicated less than a year later on May 19, 1963. Originally, the focus of the airplane memorial fell solely on the F-86 Sabre Jet which is proudly displayed. However, on October 27, 2012 - the 50th anniversary of Major Anderson, Jr.'s death - an updated memorial was dedicated. It features storyboards which explain the Cuban Missile Crisis and the events leading up to it, and honors the service of the other pilots.