And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Only pilot to be an Ace in both the P-51 and P-38. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Some of his hardest fights were with Army/Air Force bureaucrats.
Once you finish his autobiography "Fighter Pilot", I'll suggest Lars Anderson's "The All Americans", which features four players from the 1941 Army-Navy game (one of them Olds).
If the press had been on our side during the Vietnam War, BGEN Olds would have been a national hero & his photo would be vaguely recognized by the general public to this day.
Known as a bulletproof mustache. Superstition was if you shaved or trimmed it, you’d get shot down. Most of the guys who wore one in Vietnam grew it way out of regs. The thinking was “What’ll they do? Send me to Vietnam?”
Close friend for many years with the son of WWII ace Col David Carl Schilling. A member of Zemke’s Thunderbolt Wolfpack. Amazing story about an amazing group. The son Dave piloted a B52 during the raids on Hanoi. He is struggling with health issues but has been an inspiration for me. Grateful to all of you veterans.
An amazing man and story.
ReplyDeleteCol. Robin Olds. Quite a life's story.
ReplyDeleteThat 'stache alone contains more testosterone than can be found in the entire Democratic party.
ReplyDeleteAs he was the senior guy on the base, there was nobody to tell him to trim it to regulations
DeleteTaken when the USAF was still a fighting force. A time when pilots hit the target even though the way in was treacherous.
ReplyDeleteThough unquestionably true, words alone can not provide full measure of Robin Olds.
ReplyDeleteOnly pilot to be an Ace in both the P-51 and P-38.
ReplyDeleteMember of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Some of his hardest fights were with Army/Air Force bureaucrats.
Once you finish his autobiography "Fighter Pilot", I'll suggest Lars Anderson's "The All Americans", which features four players from the 1941 Army-Navy game (one of them Olds).
If the press had been on our side during the Vietnam War, BGEN Olds would have been a national hero & his photo would be vaguely recognized by the general public to this day.
ReplyDeleteKnown as a bulletproof mustache. Superstition was if you shaved or trimmed it, you’d get shot down. Most of the guys who wore one in Vietnam grew it way out of regs. The thinking was “What’ll they do? Send me to Vietnam?”
ReplyDeletenon-issue moustache, btw.
ReplyDeleteClose friend for many years with the son of WWII ace Col David Carl Schilling. A member of Zemke’s Thunderbolt Wolfpack. Amazing story about an amazing group. The son Dave piloted a B52 during the raids on Hanoi. He is struggling with health issues but has been an inspiration for me. Grateful to all of you veterans.
ReplyDelete