His reputation as a superbly skilled fighter pilot and outstanding leader continues to inspire active duty, retired and aspiring pilots and air crews alike. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. Selecting service in the U.S. Army Air Forces, Olds completed his primary flight training in the summer of 1942 at the Spartan School of Aviation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When Operation Linebacker began in May 1972, American fighter jets returned to the offense in the skies over North Vietnam for the first time in nearly four years. In other words, he went freelance. Yet every confrontation America faced in the Cold War years was a 'bombs and bullets' situation, raging under an uneasy nuclear standoff." Promoted to brigadier general on June 1, 1968, he worked to restore pride in the school after a large cheating scandal had blackened its reputation. and a leading advocate of strategic bombing in the Air Corps. Declining a series of football scholarships, he elected to take a year of study at Millard Preparatory School in 1939 before applying to West Point. The loss to the midshipmen was followed eight days later by the attack on Pearl Harbor. [94][95], Olds was known for the extravagantly waxed (and decidedly non-regulation) handlebar moustache he sported in Vietnam. And he was born to fly. When the leaders were only interested in suiting up, he exercised some initiative. Gen. Robin Olds, a World War II fighter ace who became an aviation legend by commanding the Air Force wing that shot down seven MIGs over North Vietnam in the biggest air battle of the Vietnam War, died last Thursday at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colo. 1 Squadron at Royal Air Force Station Tangmere between October 20, 1948, and September 25, 1949,[61] the first foreigner to command an RAF unit in peacetime. In all, he downed 16 enemy aircraft in the two wars, making him a triple ace. The class originally designated the Class of 1943 graduated January 19, 1943, as the, Had Olds completed the standard four-year Academy course, he would have been compelled by his height to become a bomber pilot after the AAF imposed height limitations on new fighter pilots to 5'08" [1.73m] or shorter in early 1944. [70], Promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 20, 1951, and colonel April 15, 1953, while just thirty years of age and just short of ten years from his graduation from West Point, Olds served unenthusiastically in several staff assignments until returning to flying in 1955. That fall, he was sent back to Southeast Asia to report on the combat readiness of USAF units in the region. While he knew that he would be capable of effectively using them, he was also aware that none of his pilots were trained in the use of a gun or dogfighting. Gen. Robin Olds, died June 14 from congestive heart failure one month short of his 85th birthday. I knew McConnell understood. Increasing concerned about F-105 Thunderchief losses to North Vietnamese MiGs during bombing missions, Olds designed Operation Bolo in late 1966. Retiring to Steamboat Springs, CO, he became active in public affairs. . Robin's oldest daughter, Susan lead off the remembrances with stories of being a teenager living at the Academy while Robin was Commandant of Cadets for 3 years. Robin Olds, a retired Air Force brigadier general renowned for his exploits as a fighter pilot in World War II and Vietnam, has died at 84. [81] The 44-year-old colonel also set the tone for his command stint by immediately placing himself on the flight schedule as a rookie pilot under officers junior to himself, then challenging them to train him properly because he would soon be leading them. In February 1971, Olds became director of aerospace safety in the Office of the Inspector General. Christina Olds is the daughter of Robin Olds, an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. Apart from Maurice, he had one sister, Lesley Evans, and two brothers, Barry and Andy. (It) was the most direct order I had received in twenty-four years of service. [56][57] South of Bremen, Olds noticed contrails popping up above a bank of cirrus clouds, of aircraft flying above and to the left of the bombers. He went through the normal in-processing routine like any other newbie, paid close attention and spoke little. He considered it a dangerously wasteful effort, as the mill had been hit repeatedly, but its smokestacks had remained standing. Olds, briefly hospitalized during the incident for facial cuts, pleaded guilty in return for charges of weaving and felony vehicular eluding being dropped. This led to his canopy window blowing out due to excess G forces. It was more about people he knew.. American Military Serviceperson Robin Olds was born Robert Oldys, Jr. on 14th July, 1922 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA and passed away on 14th Jun 2007 Steamboat Springs, Colorado, United States aged 84. He was an All-Star player for the West Point Academy football team, a husband and father of two daughters. It lasted until, as a colonel, he went to Washington after his service in Vietnam to meet the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. John P. McConnell. [115], In his retirement at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Olds pursued his love of skiing and served on the city's planning commission. You will laugh, cheer out loud and maybe even shed a tear. He was no less than one of the greatest fighter pilots in U.S. history a triple ace who scored at least 17 victories in World. He entered the academy a month later but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Olds was sent to the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for flight training. This defiance grew into the modern-day practice called Mustache March in the U.S. Air Force, in which Airmen of all ranks grow their mustaches out of regulations for the entire month of March in defiance of AF hair grooming standards. [18] At the age of 12, Olds made attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point an objective to accomplish his goals of becoming an officer and a military aviator, as well as playing football. Olds ruled over a fiefdom like a feudal baron, enjoying the excitement of the hunt by day and discussing the great game with his men at arms by night. While there, he toured bases and flew several unauthorized combat missions. Despite the drama in his love life, he wanted every loved one to be financially well off after his passing. He was not happy. But his report and analysis were not well received, and his recommendations were ignored. He also insisted his aircraft be waxed to reduce air resistance and helped his maintenance crew carry out their tasks. [34], Second lieutenant Olds completed fighter pilot training with the 329th Fighter Group, an operational training unit based at Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale, California. Olds had made ace in both the P-38 and P-51, probably the only pilot ever to do so. Olds remarkable life experiences jump from the pages - in a book that is nearly impossible to put down. Says F-4 pilot and novelist Mark Berent, It was well written, as youd expect from Robin, but it wasnt really about him. [94], The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Colonel Robin Olds (AFSN: 0-26046), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Strike Mission Commander in the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, against the Paul Doumer Bridge, a major north-south transportation link on Hanoi's Red River in North Vietnam, on 11 August 1967. My left window blew out, scaring the hell out of me. The incident left its mark on Olds such that when he became Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy, use of the Honor Code as an instrument for integrity rather than as a tool for petty enforcement of discipline became a point of emphasis in his administration. Naturally he wanted to follow in their footsteps. In this first "closed course" jet race, six P-80s competed against each other on a three pylon course 30miles in length. General McConnell stuck a finger under Colonel Oldss nose and commanded, Take it off., Robin Olds, 84, Fighter Ace and Hero of Big Vietnam Battle, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/us/20olds.html. And even as a commanding officer, he made a point of placing himself on the flight schedule as a rookie pilot under officers his junior. He passed right over me and I slipped over in an Immelmann. He never forgot it. Another Air Force officer who read part of the text said that it began as an ethereal discussion with the ghost of Robins father. Passed away at 10 o'clock Wednesday night at the Menorah Hospital in Kansas City, following an illness of about a week. Like so many other pilots and WSOs, he was energized by the new COs press-on attitude. As children in Manchester, Gibb and his brothers began committing crimes such . John Darrell Sherwood, in his book Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience,[4] posits that Olds' heavy drinking hurt his post-Vietnam career. Just as Olds began firing, both engines of his P-38 quit from fuel exhaustion; in the excitement of the attack he had neglected to switch to his internal fuel tanks. #RezaNorouzi, his wife & kids were arrested 2yrs ago His sons were 2 y/o and 2 months old at the time His wife and sons were in solitary confinement for 2 months The IR regime didn't provide powdered milk so they had to feed the baby cheese. . His first wife, Miss Raines, a favorite pinup girl of the era, died in 1988. On August 11, Olds conducted a strike on the Paul Doumer Bridge in Hanoi. Mrs. Stockton was born and reared in. She is a well-known actress who has appeared in many television shows. Five P-51s made a pass on the airdrome that April day. As our way to help you celebrate the New Year, were offering the first book in the Hamfist series FREE! After relinquishing command of the 8th TFW on September 23, 1967, Olds reported for duty to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in December 1967. RFT 185: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System, Who Decides the Punishment in a Smuggling Court, Which of the following Is the Legal Standard of Proof at a Civil Trial, Which Is the Oldest and Most Original Source of International Law, When Did Abortion Become Legal in Illinois. Leading the first flight, Olds overflew the primary MiG-21 base at Phc Yn and was on a second pass when MiGs finally began popping up through the cloud base. Ralph Wetterhahn, a future MiG killer. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Colonel Olds reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. A woman named Robyn appeared as a model back in 1997 on the series Just Shoot Me. I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters while Col Olds was the wing commander and Lt Col Chappy James was the DO. At 12, he vowed to attend West Point, where he hoped to play football and begin the path to becoming a military aviator. You can download the book in thee-book format of your choice at AmazonorSmashwords. He was a "triple ace", with a combined total of 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. [116], Olds' fondness for alcohol was well known. As the second plane pulled a full 360 turn, Olds stayed with him. Olds next was given command of the Air Defense Commands 71st Fighter Squadron based at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. The iconic actor died in 2014. . What to do? He was popular for being a War Hero. Col. Robin Olds of the Eighth Tactical Fighter Wing with subordinate officers on returning from his 100th mission over North Vietnam. Olds, Robin, born 14-07-1922 in Honolulu, Hawaii, was an American WWII fighter pilot and later General Officer in the U.S. Air Force. GOOD Morning America star Robin Roberts has admitted her gratitude for her GMA co-anchors in a new post on social media. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general. Navy and Marine Corps fighters, reaping the benefits of their TOPGUN program, immediately enjoyed considerable success with a 12:1 kill-loss ratio. He flew with his father aboard an open cockpit biplane when he was just eight years old. Far too many military personnel, policemen, and politicians mouth their oath of office as a rote exercise. [45][46] His combat report for that date concluded: Still in a shallow dive, I observed a P-38 and a Me 109 going round and round. Over Btzow, undetected by the Germans, Olds and his wingman jettisoned their fuel drop tanks and attacked, although the second element of the flight had been unable to keep up during the climb.[43]. He was a stepbrother of famed author, Gore Vidal. Table of Contents show. Fogerty, Ronald P. (editor, 1953), USAF Historical Study 91: Millard Preparatory School for West Point, National Museum of the United States Air Force, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order, "Eloise Wichman Oldys (1896-1926) - Find A Grave", "MG Robert Olds (1896-1943) - Find A Grave Memorial", Official Register of the Officers and Cadets, United States Military Academy, For the Academic Year Ending June 30, 1943, "USAF Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II", "Airman Exemplars: Gen Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr", "Robin Olds: An Unconventional Man's Fight for Conventional Warfare", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Memorial Service for Brigadier General Robin Olds", "Legendary fighter pilot Robin Olds dies", USAF in SEA: Aces and Aerial Victories 19651973 No. Olds turned his flight left and began a ten-minute pursuit in which they climbed to altitude above and behind the Germans. Olds scored his first kill on August 14, 1944, when he turned a Focke-Wulf 190 into a fiery German-filled inferno, but it was on a particularly balls-out mission 11 days later that Captain Robin Olds truly made a name for himself as a man that needed to have a special flight suit constructed just to contain his ridiculously-oversized steel testicles. Zak has shared photos of them all together on Instagram, including in the post seen here in which he wished his wife and son a happy Valentine's Day. [91][92], He was awarded a fourth Silver Star for leading a three-aircraft low-level bombing strike on March 30, 1967, and the Air Force Cross for an attack on the Paul Doumer Bridge in Hanoi on August 11, one of five awarded to Air Force pilots for that mission. General Olds has been an inspiration to many people throughout his lifetime. The infraction reduced him in rank from cadet captain to cadet private, characterized by Olds in his memoirs as "only the second cadet in the history of West Point to earn that dubious honor. Olds himself shot down one of the seven, for which he and the other aircrew were awarded Silver Stars. He brought three-year-old Robin with him to court, dressed in an Air Service uniform, and posed with him for newspaper photographers before testifying. Pataky addressed the hit tune . Remaining abroad for three years, he later oversaw the Weapons Proficiency Center at Wheelus Air Base, Libya. Christina Olds, daughter of the late Brig. Leaving the 8th TFW in September 1967, Olds was made Commandant of Cadets at the US Air Force Academy. The 81st TFW was a major combat unit in United States Air Forces Europe, having both a tactical nuclear and conventional bombing role supporting NATO. He is from USA. For a brief time his father was married to Nina Gore Auchincloss, making General Olds a stepbrother of the writer Gore Vidal. A 14-aircraft aerial review included four F-4 Phantoms flying a missing man formation. As a result, SAM attacks shifted to the Phantoms, which were unprotected because of a shortage of pods. Gen. Billy Mitchell. [21] Olds completed Millard Prep and applied for admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point. By the end of World War II, Olds had established his reputation as a talented fighter pilot in the P-51 Mustang, having shot down 12 enemy aircraft and destroyed another 11.5 on the ground, all in . Olds with his trademark mustache, conducting a pre-combat mission walk around inspection of his F-4 fighter, at, 1971 inspector general tour and 1973 retirement, A private site asserts that this was a derogatory comment, and that they were usually referred to as ". Welcome to the official Robin Olds website. At about 4,000ft (1,200m), the Jerry, still way out of my range, turned under me and slightly to the right. He also claimed three more unofficial kills that could not be verified by witnesses. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general. Husband/ Wife: Under Review: Child/ Kids: Not Available: Total Children . "After that I had enough, I was ready to go home" But a string of tracer fire across his nose brought him right back into the fight, as a Bf 109 dove from behind on him. He is most remembered for 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. Nov 09, 2021 01:40 P.M. Chris Hemsworth 's wife Elsa Pataky had a few words to say about the rumours that Miley Cyrus ' song "Flowers" is about her brother-in-law Liam Hemsworth. Robin Olds [1] (July 14, 1922 - June 14, 2007) was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. Born on July 14, 1922 in Honolulu, Olds was the son of Robert Olds, a fighter pilot in World War I and later an aide to Billy Mitchell. In addressing newly commissioned officers he said, The airman swears that he will obey the orders of the officers appointed over him. For five minutes these bogeys paralleled the bomber stream while the 479th held station. This is as far away from Sister Wives that you can get with an entertainment offering. [76] James and Olds worked closely together for a year as a command team and developed both a professional and social relationship which was later renewed in combat. in English and creative writing from Vassar. Dubbing his P-38J aircraft the Scat II (every fighter he flew in combat was named Scat and numbered sequentially), Olds worked closely with his crew chief to learn about aircraft maintenance. Upon return to the U.S., Olds was acclaimed as Americas top gun of the war to date, a record he retained for the next five years. Fighter pilots used to say that there was a glass case in the Pentagon building to the precise dimension of then-Colonel Robin Olds, who would be frozen in time and displayed wearing his tank-less flight suit, crashed fore and aft cap, gloves, and torso harness with .38 pistol and survival knife. He was liberated when the war with Germany ended. Beside the case was a fire ax beneath a sign reading: In case of war, break glass.. A later marriage, to Morgan Olds, ended in divorce. Olds recalled that Ryan expressed surprise at this assessment and reflected his disagreement. Postwar after VE-Day, he returned to the States and reverted to his permanent rank: a 23-year-old Captain. [39] Olds flew a new P-38J Lightning that he nicknamed Scat II. Shot down one of the seven, for which he and the Vietnam.. Commandant of Cadets at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport was made Commandant of Cadets the! The loss to the States and reverted to his permanent rank: a Captain. 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