The son of a US Army Air Corps Brigadier General, Robin Olds was born on July 14 1922 in Honolulu and spent his younger years in Virginia, where he was educated at Hampton High School before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a member of the academy football team and was selected as an All-American tackle in 1942. He completed his pilot training in 1943.
OLDS, Robin (#97)
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#97
Brigadier General Robin OLDS AFC DSM* Silver Star (4) Legion of Merit DFC (6) AM (40) DFC (UK) Croix de Guerre (45 e/a)
United States Army Air Forces & United States Air Force
July 14, 1922 – June 14, 2007
‘One of the United States Air Force’s most charismatic fighter pilots, achieving “triple ace” status during the Second World War and in Vietnam’
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Air Force Col. Robin Olds, in Southeast Asia – 1967- commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, preflights his F-4C Phantom. Col. Olds has shot down four enemy MiG aircraft in aerial combat over North Vienam. (U.S. Air Force Photo)
“Brigadier General Robin Olds was one of the USAF’s most charismatic fighter pilots, achieving “ace” status during the Second World War.
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A P-51 Mustang (L2-W, serial number 44-11746) nicknamed “Scat VI” of the 479th Fighter Group, flown by Major Robin Olds. Handwritten caption on reverse: ‘479 FG- Robin Olds A/C.’ © IWM FRE 13094
Olds joined the 434th Fighter Squadron and sailed for England in May 1944. Flying the P-38 Lightning fighter, he became an “ace” (five aerial victories) after his first two combat missions. On August 14 he shot down two Focke Wulf 190s over northern France. Eleven days later, flying on a long-range escort sortie to Rostock, he accounted for three Messerschmitt Bf 109s.
In September his squadron converted to the P-51 Mustang and he achieved his next success on October 6. He did not score again until February 9, when he downed a Bf 109 over Magdeburg. Over Berlin five days later he shot down two fighters and a month later he destroyed two more.
Promoted to major when he was 22, he took command of the 434th nine months after being the junior pilot. On April 7 he was escorting bombers deep over Germany when he shot down another Bf 109, his last success of the war. During 107 combat sorties, Olds was credited with destroying 11 aircraft on the ground during strafing attacks in addition to his 13 air-to-air successes.
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Let us Go Forward Together’, a poster by the Post Office Savings Bank showing the RAF and the USAAF working in tandem. IWM PST 16464
To add to his US Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross, he was awarded the British DFC, for “his great skill, bravery and aggressive leadership”. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre.
On his return to America, Olds was assigned to the first jet squadron and was a member of the USAF’s first jet aerobatic team. In October 1948 he returned to England under a USAF-RAF exchange programme and joined the RAF’s No 1 Squadron flying Meteor jet fighters from Tangmere in Sussex. Six months later Olds took command of No 1, the first USAF exchange officer to command an RAF squadron.
He later served as the commander of a Sabre fighter wing based in Germany before assuming a staff appointment in Washington. In September 1963 Olds was given command of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Bentwaters in Suffolk, flying the F-101 Voodoo fighter-bomber.
On completion of his one-year tour of duty in Vietnam, Olds was promoted to brigadier general and became the commandant of cadets at the US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs.
In February 1971 he became the Director of Aerospace Safety, but was soon restless to return to flying operations. He offered to drop a rank to take command of a fighter wing in Vietnam, but when this was refused he retired to the ski slopes of Colorado in June 1973.
Olds was the epitome of the aggressive fighter pilot who led from the front. He was a flamboyant and courageous leader and one of his senior pilots in Vietnam commented: “Quite simply, he was a leader of men to an extent that few have become, and the finest USAF fighter pilots of the day worked their way to Ubon to follow this icon into combat.”
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Official portrait of Brigadier General Robin Olds as Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, circa 1967–71 (via Wikipedia)
During his time in Vietnam he grew an extravagant waxed handlebar moustache as a mark of his individuality. On his return home he soon discovered that not everyone appreciated his maverick behaviour. When he reported to the Air Force Chief in Washington, he stood to attention and saluted. The Chief walked up to him, stuck a finger under his nose and said: “Get it off.” Olds replied: “Yes, sir.”
Olds was inducted into the US National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001 when he became the only person to be enshrined in the Aviation Hall and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Until a few months before his death he remained in great demand as a speaker and lecturer for his inspirational and motivational talks.
Robin Olds died on June 14. In 1947 he married the Hollywood actress Ella Raines; they separated in 1975. She died in 1988, when he married his second wife Morgan. They were later divorced. Two daughters survive him from his first marriage.” (Obituary courtesy of the Daily Telegraph)
“At about 4,000 feet, the Jerry, still way out of my range, turned under me and slightly to the right.
I rolled over on my back, following him and gave him an ineffective burst at long range.
By this time I was traveling in excess of 500 miles per hour.
My left window blew out, scaring the hell out of me.”
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Robin Olds’ ribbons as they appeared at retirement (Wikipedia)
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Veteran fighter pilots including Arthur F Jeffrey, 479th Fighter Group, Jack M Ilfrey, 20th Fighter Group, Hubert A Zemke 56th Fighter Group and 479th Fighter Group and Robin W Olds, 479th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: ‘L-R Jeffrey, Ilfrey, Zemke, Bader, Olds.’ © IWM FRE 15093
“Timeless voices” Robin Olds interview
“I’m the only fighter pilot who can claim to have shut down an enemy fighter in glide mode!”
The life of Triple Ace Robin Olds, one of America’s great fighter pilots who also became one of America’s most colorful military mavericks.
Presented by his daughter Christina Olds. Produced by Jarel & Betty Wheaton for Peninsula Seniors www.pvseniors.org
Here’s Robin’s story in his own words and gleaned from the family and friends of his lifetime. Here’s the talent and learning, the passion and leadership, the love and disappointments of his life. Few men have written on the tablets of aviation history with such a broad and indelible brush. Olds was a classic hero with vices as well as virtues, a life writ large that impacted many.