Was in service my self drafted to Korea in Vietnam war. Not a lifer Like Olds probably not liked him as superior but admire him all the same! I love fighter planes & women too!

A wonderful story about a storied man. Oh how I wish he could have "put paid" to the bomber generals who nearly destroyed the proud heritage of the Air Force and of the fighter pilots of all nations. I was privileged to know and fly with a few. My life is better for having known them. Thanks ED and especially Christina for this tribute.

After retirement, what did Robin Olds think about the new series of fighter aircraft that came into service during the 1970's with the USAF and USN? (F-14, F-15, F-16 & F-18) How did he feel about the capabilities that came about with the advances in avionics, airframe & powerplant as it relates to the missions he knew and flew so well?

What aircraft did he personally enjoy flying the most. This does not necessarily mean military aircraft either. Did he ever own a private aircraft, if so what kind. Somehow, I feel that a J3 cub may inter this mix ? My girlfriend's father served under him in the 8th fighter tach. in Thailand both pre and post Col. Olds arrival. I can tell by the "light" that comes on in his eyes upon the mention of his name that this man was quite the leader. This country owes so much to Col. Olds and people like him. To bad he didn't pursue politics after retirement, this country definitely needs this kind of leadership, "leadership by example".

Greetings everyone! It is a pleasure and a distinct honor to be participating in Air & Space Magazine's first online book club with my father's memoirs. I've been traveling back and forth across the country and the response to Robin's story has been overwhelming.

To answer Ron's question about how my dad felt about the later aircraft, I know that he was able to get "official" rides in all the later fighter aircraft except for the F-18. He absolutely enjoyed every new piece of technology as it came along and spoke often (with a gleam in his eye) about how he'd love to take on the challenge of perfecting fighter pilot flight tactics in each new iteration of aircraft.

I'm not certain of his reaction to the specific different technologies as they arose - as far as whether he thought they'd be good flying and fighting machines - but he held only strong negative opinions about different missile types. In his later years, he was late in coming to computers. It took me forever to get him to have a telephone answering machine, followed by a cell phone then a computer, but once he dove into the basics, he went as far as he could in conquering the technology for his purposes.

Although he looked askance at computers flying airplanes and frankly felt "sorry" for the kids who could not simply fly by the seat of the their pants, he also acknowledged that the march of technology was unavoidable and therefore mandatory to learn and utilize. I know that if he had kept flying into his 70's and early 80's - or were alive today as a young fighter pilot, he'd still be at the top of his game and leading flights, no matter what type of aircraft.

Christina

In answer to Larry's questions:

Robin had a special romantic place in his heart for the P-51. There's no doubt about that. He was able to fly his P-51, SCAT VII in the 1990's when a civilian pilot bought it and refurbished it. There's no denying the joy in Robin's eyes in those photos of him at age 75 in his P-51. The F-4 was loved in a different, more powerful way. He certainly regarded it as the fighter pilot's ultimate flying machine and wanted to keep flying it long after his combat tour in 'Nam. It remains to be seen what could have happened if he had been able to equip the Phantom to his exact specifications with guns, accurate missiles, bomb-load and then been allowed to attack the important targets in North Vietnam.

Robin never owned a private plane. He wasn't too happy about having to get his private pilot's license in the early 1990's in order to fly the P-51, but he did it. I know that many friends let him fly their private planes and jets when he was a passenger but he never held much interest in owning a small plane just to get around.

Oh, yikes, Robin could never, ever have been a politician! He served briefly on the County Planning Commission in Routt County after he retired and learned quickly that working through bureaucratic committees or having to glad-hand was not his style at all. He always told it as he saw it. Politicians cannot do that and rise to any level of high office. He discussed many times his disappointment that people who can be effectively led by men of his style are only people who are 100% accountable for their own lives and actions. The masses seem to require someone else to take responsibility for them. He couldn't and wouldn't tolerate whining, finger-pointing or lack of accountability. There's no doubt he could have been a civilian leader of immense importance if he had chosen that path, but it was not to be.
Christina

Regarding his "favorite" airplane, I'm sure that Robin was like most of us always in love with his first fighter. Hemingway said it in a quote I used Palace Cobra:

"You love a lot of things if you live around them, but there isn't any woman and there isn't any horse, nor any before nor any after, that is as lovely as a great airplane, and men who love them are faithful to them even though they leave them for others. A man has only one virginity to lose in fighters, and if it is a lovely plane he loses it to, there his heart will ever be."

So, I suspect he loved the Lightning for all his life. But, he made the legend in the Phantom and often spoke about the jet and things he had done in it. The F-4 was with us for a long time so he had a lot of opportunity to fly it even after Ubon.

Ron,

Robin was always welcomed in the fighter community, even long after retirement. He had the opportunity to fly in most of the "teen" jets and I don't think he ever turned a ride down.

Unlike a lot of fighter pilots of the single-seat/single-engine community, Robin was more open toward acceptance of the technology of the F-4 and the concept of the back-seater. He hated the fact that the early models didn't have a gun and he trained himself well in the system requirements for employment of the missiles. The recounting of the planning and prep for Bolo help illustrate that effort as does the handling of the AIM-4 Falcon missiles and the jerry-rigging of the shoulder mounts on the inboard pylons for AIM-9s.

Like me, he was amazed at the developments in aircraft performance, engine thrust, weapons capability and defensive equipment. Anything which enhanced our ability to take the fight to the enemy was proper in Robin's view.

While many like to credit Boyd with development of the modern tactical force, the record shows that Boyd was a bit short in the tactical application side of the equation, i.e. actually going to battle. Robin filled the combat experience requirement and arguably had at least as much influence in building the force through training, leadership and tactics development.

Christina,

I just finished reading “Fighter Pilot”. It was excellent. I flew in the Wolf Pack several years after your father had left. I had the privilege to meet Robin at EAA several years ago. It was early in the morning and he was wandering through the exhibit hall by himself with a cup of coffee. We chatted for over a half hour with no one else around. I really enjoyed talking with him. I again met him when he spoke one evening at the Air and Space museum out by Dulles. Afterwards he autographed for me a copy of the Air Force’s book on Air Superiority which has the Keith Ferris painting of Robin’s F-4 engaging a Mig in Operation Bolo. I told him I had the print hanging in my office. The first thing he asked me was if I had it hanging correctly with the F-4 in the vertical on its back pulling down onto the MiG. I assured him as an F-4 guy I had it right. F-4 guys always tried to fight MiGs in the vertical! Last time I saw it the print was hanging incorrectly, with the F-4 horizontal, in the Pentagon. I am looking forward to meeting you at the book signing at the AFA conference in September. Thanks for all your hard work with your dad telling his story. It is a great story of a great man.

Jeff “Yankee” Breunig

Jeff, Yes, I saw that Keith Ferris F-4 print hanging incorrectly in the Pentagon just this past May when I visited. My comment that it needed to be hung vertically fell on indifferent ears. Guess not much has changed!

I read the book as soon as I received on pre order and was disappointed when I ran into my time of direct association with Gen Olds. It started with the errors in the F4D intro to SEA and the AIM4 stories. Several other errors that I was familiar with made me wonder about other items in the book that could have been clarified by contacting some of the people who were there.

He is greatly adnired for his flying ability and go get em attitude. I have heard him called the Gen Patton of the Air Force and would agree with that. It is sad that you can't recommend the book for young teens that want to become a fighter pilot. I do not think the use of colorful language and his dalliances have any thing to do with his stick and rudder ability.

Yes, I admired Gen Olds and told him I thought it was great that he was being assigned as Commandant of Cadets at USAFA. He was not happy with the assignment mainly because he was a Fighter Pilot. No fighter aircraft at USAFA.

Would I fly with him again? You bet. It would be an honor and we all know you better be on your toes.

Red Kimball

To Red,
Thank you so much for your comments. I know that the fighter pilot language can be challenging for people. I've also received feedback on the fact that a cigarette was hanging out of Robin's mouth on the cover of the book. He lost 40 pounds in Vietnam due to battle fatigue. Many people smoked in those days and most of the fighter pilots I know still swear. It seems to be part of the culture. My dad quit smoking cold turkey two years after returning from 'Nam. Ed Rasimus and I ran the manuscript by several people who served with Robin, did interviews and much research, covering and checking as many facts as we could. Happily, the personal tone and truth of his memoirs hold firm throughout the stories and serve to reveal the depth of the man.

Wes, be certain that we spoke to a lot of people who were there. We included information gathered from his WW II wingman to folks who were with him during the Europe years to a lot of folks from Ubon and the Academy time. I flew the F-105 out of Korat in the period immediately preceding his Ubon tenure and I returned to Korat in '72 flying the F-4E (and occasionally D-model) for another 150 missions. My background and dozens of experienced fighter pilots familiar with the aircraft, the weapons, the tactics and the period went into the book. We made it as accurate as humanly possible. I'd be happy to recommend the book to young teens with a view to a military career or simply with an interest in leadership, patriotism or courage. The language does not revolve around crudity, profanity or obscenity. To dilute it would be untrue. A teenager today, regrettably, has heard much worse and uses much worse in daily discourse. I'm glad you enjoyed the book and hold fond memories of Robin, as we all do.

I appreciated the honest and balanced portrayal of Robin Olds' character, and I applaud Christina Olds for revealing her father's humanity as well as his heroism.

Thank you very much Chrisina and Ed for answering my question. Ed, John Boyd did come to mind as I remember reading his story as well. Boyd and Olds both had a distain for the bureaucratic commisions and politicians
who made the important decisions on matters without input from them and their peers. I laughed out loud on their thoughts about these people who had no clue at all to the realities of their craft. Yet each man in his own way did persevere in the face of discouragement and opposition.
This I know, as will future generations who read about men of character such as John Boyd and Robin Olds.

What held true in the opinion of Greek philosopher Heraclitus has held true throughout the ages: "Character is Destiny". It is not Robin's flying skills or leadership or humor or patriotism that defines him in bits and pieces. It is the character of the whole man that cements his legacy.

Ed: It was not my intent to question your background. On the contrary you should be proud and justly so of your accomplishments.

My intent was to point out several errors, dates, happenings etc. Example-Page 306 and the F-4D. The 40th TFS arrived Ubon from Eglin, via Hawaii and Guam. We arrived with sixteen D models, no aborts or incidents enroute. The remaining four arrived from Eglin about two weeks later after the RHAW mods were finally completed at Eglin.

The 4th TFS arrived late July or early August and designated as the 435th. A number of the old timers at Ubon were put in the 435th for pre combat training and initial missions to Package One. Conversely the 40th was farmed out to the sister squadrons and then together with the 555th.

I was personally was not aware of the discussions about whose new F-4D it was. (Page 307) Nor the Combat Ready thing. I was in full favor of the Sidewinder and the jury rig of the D. However, crossing Laos on the way north, we were checking the sidewinders, getting the growl etc. I had checed mine and number three dropped back to check. I heard him say OOPS! Boss I just launched one at you, but it didn't guide. We wound up with the AIM4.

The language? It is funny and sad how the Fighter Pilot language has morphed. Luke Field in 1944-45 was covered with about three thousand fighter pilots. As a nineteen old wannabee I listened acutely to the arguments between P-38,P-51 and P-47 pilots of their skills. I do not recall a large amount of bad language. Subsequent assignments with fighter pilots and various squadrons remained pretty much the same. Maybe that is the reason I have yet to be a good Fighter Pilot. Combat terms seem to evoke candid opinions. I remember where the definition came from as stated by a well known comedian. "Sierra Hotel"!!! From old Chinese man after eating Mexican food the first time.

Red
555th CC Jun 67- Apr 68

Red, thanks for the details on the arrival of the D's. I don't see a huge disconnect between Robin's recollection of the events and yours. The only adjustment, is the "ownership" of the new models, and we went with the notes which Robin left us on his tour at Ubon. As you can imagine, building a life story from the boxes of papers, journals, diaries, official orders, etc and the memories of dozens of disparate people after the principal has passed on is a monumental task. I can picture Robin having made the statement, after all he was the Wing CC. He simply might not have made it to you. A minor point, regarding the language--you are very correct with regard to shifts in how young men speak today and then. Language has certainly coarsened. It is subtle, but you may note in rereading that we tried to have an evolution of the language over the years of his life. He never had difficulty in communicating, you may recall! As for the AIM-9 "cook-off" your wingman had, I wouldn't attribute it to the shoulder stations as much as I might be suspicious of a switchology error (they happen a lot!) You are a "good Fighter Pilot" when other people tell you that you are, until then you are a pilot flying fighters. BTW, I spent four years in the 435th as instructor doing the IP training for AT-38s at Holloman.

How fortunate we are to be able to know about a real American Hero who lived his life with honor and conviction and led by example to be envied by many. I am sure the things he did are things many of us wish we were capable of. Too bad Robin never got his hands on the stick of the F-4E model which was introduced in August of 1967 and had a M61 Vulcan cannon mounted in the nose along with the higher thrust J79-GE-17 engines. I can only imagine what havoc he would have unleashed on those MiGs.

Bless you Christina for your dedication and devotion to your father and your effort to preserve his memoirs.

And now, what is the selection for August/September? EDITORS' REPLY: Stay tuned!

Respected Sir,

I have completed my Graduation & P.G. and presently working for past 4 months. Can you please let me know whether I can become a fighter pilot. If yes then please provide me the necessary guidance. EDITORS' REPLY: We suggest you contact the recruiting office of your nation's air force.

Thank You.