. Olds attended Hampton High School where he was elected president of his class three successive years,[20] and played varsity high school football on a team that won the state championship of Virginia in 1937. GOOD Morning America star Robin Roberts has admitted her gratitude for her GMA co-anchors in a new post on social media. Robyn Brown was in the credits for just one show. The son of U.S. Army Air Forces Major General Robert Olds, educated at West Point, and the product of an upbringing in the early years of the U.S. Army Air Corps, Olds epitomized the youthful World War II fighter pilot. [21], As a plebe, Olds played football on a freshman squad that began the season with three losses but finished 341 while the varsity won only one game in its second consecutive losing season. Olds commanded the wing until July 26, 1965. 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. Rising to the command of two fighter wings, Olds is regarded among aviation historians, and his peers, as the best wing commander of the Vietnam War, for both his air-fighting skills, and his reputation as a combat leader. Navy and Marine Corps fighters, reaping the benefits of their TOPGUN program, immediately enjoyed considerable success. As a result, SAM attacks shifted to the Phantoms, which were unprotected because of a shortage of pods. Olds achieved the bulk of his strafing credits the following week in attacks on Lbeck Blankensee and Tarnewitz airdromes on April 13, and Reichersberg airfield in Austria on April 16, when he destroyed six German planes on the ground. When is Robin Roberts Marrying? He thought about the words, absorbed, them, and passed them along. His reputation as a superbly skilled fighter pilot and outstanding leader continues to inspire active duty, retired and aspiring pilots and air crews alike. Robert Olds had asked his son the status of the U.S. Air Force and got a detailed debriefing on whats wrong with the service. In his first two dogfights, he was alone with his wingman, having left formation to hunt on his own. U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- Retired Brig. The MiG losses were the highest suffered in one day by the North Vietnamese during the war. His wife is Ella Raines (6 February 1947 - 1975) ( divorced) ( 3 children) Robin Olds Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Five P-51s made a pass on the airdrome that April day. After her fathers death, Christina spent years combing through her fathers notes, diaries and unfinished memoir to complete a captivating, intimate memoir of the consummate fighter pilot. He became the only person enshrined in both the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. ", David Hartman, Aviation writer and original host of Good Morning America. Following his exchange assignment, Olds returned to March AFB to become operations officer of the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group, flying North American F-86A Sabres, on November 15, 1949. This required some adjustment on Olds part as the single-engine Mustang handled differently than the twin-engine Lightning. Navy and Marine Corps fighters, reaping the benefits of their TOPGUN program, immediately enjoyed considerable success with a 12:1 kill-loss ratio. The old ways were not only out, they were deceased. Christina Olds, daughter of the late Brig. He also insisted his aircraft be waxed to reduce air resistance and helped his maintenance crew carry out their tasks. Olds expressed his philosophy regarding fighter pilots in the quote: There are pilots and there are pilots; with the good ones, it is inborn. 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. First, he cut loose the deadwood, the ticket punchers and careerists who had sniveled some counters - missions that counted toward completion of a tour when in fact they had not gone north. Mar 11, 2023 [Civil War] Dashing Image of an Armed Soldier Before . While there, he toured bases and flew several unauthorized combat missions. The oldest of four, Olds spent the majority of his childhood at Langley Field, Virginia where his father was stationed as an aide to Brig. After suggesting the idea to Seventh Air Force commander Major General William Momyer, himself a former commander of the 8th TFW, Olds was directed to plan a mission designed to draw the North Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s into an aerial trap, and "Operation Bolo" resulted. He was active in public speaking, making 21 events as late in his life as 2005 and 13 in 2006. [100], The incident with the mustache is given credit as the impetus for a new Air Force tradition, "Mustache March", in which aircrew, aircraft maintainers, and other airmen worldwide show solidarity by a symbolic, albeit good-natured "protest" for one month against Air Force facial hair regulations. Olds had made ace in both the P-38 and P-51, probably the only pilot ever to do so. [116], Olds' fondness for alcohol was well known. [39] Olds flew a new P-38J Lightning that he nicknamed Scat II. 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. VPAF fighter activity diminished to almost nothing for 10 weeks afterwards, thereby accomplishing the main goal of Operation Bolo: to eliminate or diminish the threat of MiGs to the strike formations. He was flying so low, he said in an interview that year, that it seemed the gunners on roofs were shooting down at him. [120], Olds is remembered as the Class Exemplar of the Academy Class of 2011, which had begun Basic Cadet Training, the first step towards becoming Air Force officers, two days before Olds' funeral.[121]. Anyone can read what you share. In March 1943, Olds was braced by an officer upon returning from leave in New York City, and compelled on penalty of an honor violation to admit he had consumed alcohol. [104][105], Robin Olds' ribbons as they appeared at retirement. And the wife of talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is finally revealing the secret to her youthful look. [3] He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general, after 30 years of service. A month before the fall of Nazi Germany, Maj. Robin Olds of the 479th Fighter Group, U.S. Army Air Forces, scored his final aerial victory of World War II, chasing a Messerschmitt 109 through a formation of B-24 Liberator bombers and shooting it down. Dressed in a child-size air service uniform, he watched his father testify on Mitchells behalf. Despite intense, accurately directed fire, multiple surface-to-air missile attacks on his force, and continuous harassment by MiG fighters defending the target, Colonel Olds, with undaunted determination, indomitable courage, and professional skill, led his force through to help destroy this significant bridge. Nov 09, 2021 01:40 P.M. It is the People of the United States; who, hopefully in their wisdom will guide their forces properly., Olds had been writing a memoir for several years prior to his death. Returning to the United States after the war, Olds was assigned at West Point as an assistant football coach for Red Blaik. [49], He made eight claims while flying the P-38 (five of which are sustained by the Air Force Historical Research Agency) and was originally credited as the top-scoring P-38 pilot of the European Theater of Operations. He found what he feared: most Air Force fighter crews couldnt fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Commander John Nichols, a Navy MiG killer brought to Udorn, Thailand to teach dogfighting to the Air Force blue suits, saw Olds taxi his F-4 into the chocks after a practice mission. Explore Robin Olds Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Wife, Family relation. . Wife And Net Worth; Gina Cirone : Career, Height, Husband, Age And Net Worth; Age, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Height And Career Of Kendall Long; Olds recalled that Ryan expressed surprise at this assessment and reflected his disagreement. Olds then married Abigail Morgan Sellers Barnett in January 1978, and they divorced after fifteen years of marriage. Robin Olds was previously married to Ella Raines (1947 - 1976).. About. [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. The Bf 109 passed beneath him and as he rolled the nose down he fired, taking the Bf 109 out before heading home. Robin Olds was a "triple ace" American fighter pilot with a combined total of 17 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. Brig. Table of Contents show. Robin married Abigail Morgan Sellers Barnett in January 1978, and they divorced after fifteen years of marriage. They married in Beverly Hills on February 6, 1947, and had two daughters, Christina and Susan, and a son, Robert Ernest, who was stillborn in 1958. He is most remembered for 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. Olds had a highly publicized career and life, including marriage to Hollywood actressElla Raines. Lt Col James was as motivational whenever I saw him speak. [51] Olds shot down an Fw 190 in his new Scat VI on October 6 during a savage battle near Berlin in which he was nearly shot down by his own wingman. 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. Husband/ Wife: Under Review: Child/ Kids: Not Available: Total Children . He was not happy. But his report and analysis were not well received, and his recommendations were ignored. A highly decorated combat fighter pilot of World War II and the Vietnam War, he was a triple ace with a combined total of 16 aerial victories in both wars. Hell, if I was one of them Id have got 50 of us!. It was a common superstition among airmen to grow a "bulletproof mustache",[96][97] but Olds also used his as "a gesture of defiance. The son of an Army Air Corps general, Robin Olds (July 14, 1922 - June 14, 2007) is best known as a Triple Ace combat pilot who was willing to break a few rules to get the job done. She holds a B.A. He flew with his father aboard an open cockpit biplane when he was just eight years old. Olds was a team player as long as the team wanted to play. He remained in this role for much of the Korean War despite repeated requests for combat duty. "My dad and I were great buddies," said Christina Olds. Gen. Robin Olds, died June 14 from congestive heart failure one month short of his 85th birthday. [94][95], Olds was known for the extravagantly waxed (and decidedly non-regulation) handlebar moustache he sported in Vietnam. [6][7][8] He had one younger brother, Stevan Meigs (19241988), two younger paternal half-brothers, Sterling Meigs "Dusty" (19351995) and Frederick A. Increasingly unhappy with the U.S. Air Force, despite promotions to Lieutenant Colonel (1951) and Colonel (1953), he debated retiring but was talked out of it by his friend Maj. Gen. Frederic H. Smith, Jr. Operation Bolo, and P-38 dogfights Olds experienced were recreated using computer animation in the episode "Air Ambush", of The History Channel Dogfights series, first telecast on November 10, 2006. Under Olds predecessor, who seldom flew combat, the 8th had eked out a meager kill-loss ratio. Show more. Mar 11, 2023 5th Maryland Regiment at Washington's Tomb $125. [89], On May 4, Olds destroyed another MiG-21 over Phc Yn. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. USAF biography, Photostatic copy of Olds' victory claim report of 14 Feb 45 with links to other reports, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing Vietnam Era Website, Memorial Service for Brigadier General Robin Olds @ U.S. Air Force Academy, 30 June 2007, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robin_Olds&oldid=1118555116, United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II, United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War, Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United States), Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France), Recipients of the Distinguished Service Order (Vietnam), Pages using college Football HoF with unknown parameters, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 17:30. Robin Olds, known for his brash personality, became an endearing figure thanks to his leadership, forward-thinking in aerial warfare and love for fellow Air Force pilots. In February 1971, Olds became director of aerospace safety in the Office of the Inspector General. [16] On November 10, 1925, his father appeared as a witness on behalf of Billy Mitchell during Mitchell's court-martial in Washington, D.C. Somehow he got the bird on the runway and kept it in one piece. Eloise, Olds' mother, died when he was four, and he was brought up by his father, who gave him his first flight at the age of eight, in an open-cockpit biplane. Robin Olds died on June 14, 2007. [30], Olds completed primary training in the summer of 1942 at the Spartan School of Aviation in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[31] and basic and advanced training at Stewart Field, New York. Follow-up interceptions over the next two days by MiGs against RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft led to a similar mission on a smaller scale on January 6, with another two MiG-21s shot down. Years later, Wetterhahn compared Olds arrival with that of Brig. Olds' class was given an abridged second class course of study until January 19, 1943, when it began an abridged first class course. Please check back often for the newest additions. (later Maj. Gen.) Robert Olds and his wife Eloise, who died when Robin was four. [52] He completed his first combat tour on November 9, 1944, accruing 270 hours of combat time and six kills. After World War II, General Olds became one of the first Air Force pilots to fly jets. Weighing his options, he decided to risk it all and flat planed. Turning to investigate, Olds saw pairs of Me 262s turn towards and dive on the Liberators. Robin Olds was born on the 14th of July, 1922. Because do you know what that is? Olds did not want to live in that world. After he received a conditional commitment for nomination from Pennsylvania Congressman J. Buell Snyder, Olds moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he lived in the YMCA and supported himself working odd jobs. Olds wears USAF flight gear typical of the 1967 time frame, including: K-2B Flying Suit, CSU-3/P Anti-G Suit, SRU-21/P Survival Vest, PCU-3/P Torso Harness, B-3A Gloves, and a Pilot's Survival Knife. Her earliest memory was the Transatlantic crossing from New York to England on the Queen Mary. (It) was the most direct order I had received in twenty-four years of service. [66] Later that same year Olds took second place in the Thompson Trophy Race (Jet Division) of the Cleveland National Air Races at Brook Park, Ohio, over the Labor Day weekend. The unit was under the command of then-Col. Robin Olds, who James knew from working at the Pentagon. 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