Robin Olds: The Total Fighter Pilot Package 

Your lucky you got that F4 back in semi-working order with those two flying it.

@@danlangowski929 I'll never forget strapping Col. JAMES in the ejection seat he was a big man and he couldn't move around too much to reach the shoulder harneses and he said to me son I am probably the biggest black ass you have ever helped strap into this seat. He was such an easy person to speak too. When I found out he passed shortly after he retired I felt real bad.

@@rayritchotte7608 Thanks for sharing those stories Ray, highly appreciated.

Great stories gents. Thanks for sharinf

LUCKY A** CREW CHIEF!!! I’m Jealous now. Lol. ( I did my A-10 FTD at DM AFB in the 90’s after crewing a 135 for 4 years) … it’s nice to have a Wing King that is a BEEN THERE DONE THAT Officer. They know WHO the Crew Chiefs are

And more intelligence than ALL of DC

​@@johnh1353in loving memory of. besides admiration for others similar

Thank you; love you all!!!

I've been fascinated with the mystique of Robin Olds.

@@owensweetland342 Robin Olds: My Favorite Fighter Ace of WWII (Europe) and S. E. Asia (Vietnam), Steven L. Cassel (Reese Airport Selma, Indiana 🇺🇸)

Are you Brads’ twin sister? Friend of Brads’..

@@SeanCrowley1 no, cousin… I used to babysit Brad!!😌

That would be an amazing movie

I'm pretty sure I suggested the same thing when I watched this video a year ago when it first came out. Such a good subject that I'm watching it again in May of 2024!

@@s.marcus3669there you go, Mooch! A huge project for you. Maverick’s got nothing on Olds! 😅

Nah, Hellywood's never got one right yet.

😂😂😂😂😂

Amazing experience.

I figured that out pretty quick. I already knew "aviationese" from my Dad (ADC) so we could understand each other right away. Never flew with him, but did "ski formation" lots of times. Even on snow, the wingman is busy.

@@WardCarroll Great story as usual. Strange that he disparaged Cunningham in his bio. Was that before or after Cunningham's congressional scandal?

@@davidsmith8997 pretty sure that was tongue-in-cheek and more of an Air Force guy refusing to give a Navy guy a compliment.

I recognized the great man in a hotel bar in Steamboat twenty years ago, and always regret not taking the opportunity to shake his hand and tell him how much I admired him.

See History channel dog fights episode for more on col.olds...

Hugh, Brit here too. You should buy a copy of 'Fighter Pilot'. The book is a fantastic read and is the autobiography written by Olds and his daughter shortly before he passed.

@@tommycoombs thanks. I will do that

Very well stated.

Yep. Robin Olds was quite the man

Same reason they didn’t teach us about Col. John Boyd. His biography “Boyd” will make you proud and piss you off all at once.

@@damiangrouse4564 Hell yeah.

As American citizens we should be taught about this incredible man

@@damiangrouse4564 Let me guess. While he was a smart man. He wasn't exactly a combat experienced Pilot, with his only deployment being in Korea where he didn't have an Air-to-air kill. Also, I will say this John Boyd and his fighter Mafia Buddies don't strike me as mavericks, if anything they are deeply conservative people in the way how they see combat. Thinking that the next war will be fought like the previous war.

@@marseldagistani1989 read the book…the reason we have F-16 and F-15 back then and F-22, F35 now with most models carrying guns since is due to Col. Boyd. Ps. I was enlisted and have an educated low opinion of good portion of the officers I met…but everything I’ve read about this two gentlemen gives me hope that there will always be people like this to defend this country.

Great story. Reminds me of meeting a boyhood NHL hockey player a few years ago. Was just excited as I was to talk about old hockey stories

@@andrewpizzino2514 Do they drop bombs at NHL games now and use live ammo?

@@blueocean-me1ns ???

Being a warrior pilot is a form of athletics and in the example I gave they both perform at high-level. So I’m not gonna understand your statement

@@andrewpizzino2514 Form of athletics? LOL! I didn't realize in athletics you bombed people?

Awesome to have been there, Captain. Thx.

And I was in the class he flipped off as he left. He was the ultimate Commandant. In recognition of his time as Commandant, the Wing gave him a sabre in a presentation case during the noon meal. As he held the case, it became evident to us that he was holding it so that both hands were, yes, flipping the bird. His words were , "I guess I'll leave you guys the same way I came in." Ritchie came to the zoo once, and he and Olds held court in front of the F-4 on the quad. I was under the impression Ritchie had already made ace. I only saw Ella Raines once, during a parade march-off where I was a guidon bearer. She was wearing that same fur as you had in the picture, and was a knockout. There were a number of stories (one or two apocryphal, I'm sure) of his letting off cadets who had really screwed up, after they'd come clean, or had shown exemplary spirit. Most of the guys there would have followed Robin Olds to the ends of the earth, and over the edge.

@@studuerson2548 Great stuff, Stu. Thanks for sharing it here.

I was there too (in Arnold Hall). I will never forget that... one of the most impressive examples of leadership that I have ever witnessed. You were one year ahead of me. I later became a fighter pilot ( in F-4s also). I hope that if I am worthy of the hereafter, it will be as Robin Olds described it in his recurring dream.

The absolute peak of the >refuses to elaborate further >leaves level of Chad

Bro he was born in 1922 and died in 2007 thats 85 not 58!!! 85 is a pretty good number if you ask me lol

Did you not even watch the video? He's talking about Chappie James, his buddy who died in the 70s. @@Ash-iv7el

@@Ash-iv7el I am sorry to tell you this but Chappy died at the age of 58. You can look it up.

Somebody here is lysdexic.

Two of the most damaging persons ever to hold power in our country were Lyndon Johnson and Robert Strange McNamara. We are still living with the problems those two created for our Country.

And until that day comes we'll take a Senile, Corrupt, Career Politician who falls of Bicycles.

He was a warrior king & some doddering old dementive pedo is no replacement a man

@@realMaverickBuckley - BUTT Mostly tells & Re-Tells Self-aggrandizing yarns that that have ZERO basis in FACT!! 👎🏾 Calm down there ‘Pres. Sleepy Sniffer’

Better than a RuSSian spy!

I 2nd everything you said. I wish I had a poster of the man, so I could hang it in my house. Im in love with him.....hahaha

Well said mate

I can tell you are a good listener

Everything gov is up hill battle where the hell are you from?

Amazing 🍺

Cool story Bro

Jaeger bombs! 🥃 💣 💥

You lucky so and so!!

Spot on, easily right up there with 47 minutes of enthralling, gobsmacked respect mate

Your statement gave this old Air Force Nurse, (his era) a wave of chills,goosebumps & quick tears washing out my eyes. Honor, loyalty,etc. really are virtues to strive for. Thank you.

​@@carolecarr5210 Carole i hope people that are younger than us ( i'm 45 ) really get to understand that men like R. Olds in western nations defense forces across the world are the difference between tyranny and freedom, not lying MSM, BIG TECH etc Thanks for replying i really do feel the same

Great response, I couldn’t have said it better.

I'm pretty sure he was my dentist when I was a kid! Holy crap I had no idea he was an ace.

What a privilege to hear from a master teaching his deadly craft. Would you share any air-to-air teachings?

That’s badass that you got to hear it straight from him!

Want to read about strafing in WWII? Look for MAD REBEL ... A YOUTH AT WAR John H. Oliphint From: 3559th Fighter Pilots. I bought a box of these from John and had them all Autographed. For All Who Read These Words “Freedom is NOT Free!” John Olinphint

Mooch mate. Robin Olds is a total LEGE! Respect from the UK. And that is hard to get mate ..

Unfortunately also civilian trains in occupied nations were strafed. My grandfather, a doctor, was traveling by passenger train here in Denmark. He survived.

Yeah. Best ever!

I think Kim Kardashian's channel has better production values. Ward is a close second.

Agree!

Agree, mind blowing episode 🤯😂

Hi Bassin. Agreed. Best ever. Robin was one hell of a guy. But I somehow wish he had just hung it up and stayed with his wife to the end. But he could not have saved her of course. That's the way it is I guess.

No doubt. 🇺🇸

His daughter says he didn't, and she asked him.

Several pilots of the 8th claim that he gave them his kills, so that he wouldn't get called back.

He supposedly flew missions during his tour as the IG. I was saw an interview with Robin where he was asked about a 5th kill in Vietnam, all he said was “as the French say, probably” in a slight French accent

@@Th3Rambler Oh yea, I read his autobiography, I think he was sneaking around flying every ones but the 8th TFW's F-4's over North Vietnam, but I never saw that interview. I was only going by his actions, fighting to stay in combat and lead his troops and interviews of the men that flew with him, whenever his 4 official Mig kills were brought up, there always seemed to be a "wink" or asterisk. Dude were is that interview?

You were likely at Ubon, the same time as my Dad, Al Homstead.

Not much left of 79SQN at Ubon these days, just some broken up concrete foundations next to a rusted water tank. The results of Agent Orange spraying on the perimeter can still be seen. Anytime you're there be sure to visit the RTAF museum and the memorial to PLTOFF Mark McGrath RAAF.

From what I've read/heard they were the two hands working together

My Dad was an F-94C guy. I don't believe he flew with either Gen. Olds or Gen. James but as a kid I knew about "Blackman and Robin". My dad had an issue of Air Combat that covered Operation Bolo and where the Article was Batman and Robin, my father corrected it with an ink pin.

Good choice.

He would be great. Mine would be Pappy Boyington since I met him as a teen

@@lewiskemp5893 The original "Black Sheep" 😉🇬🇧

Robin Olds or Johnnie Johnson for me.

@@benlewis2475 Yes, another Hero!! My Mother met him during the war years, she worked for Irvin Air Chute and he paid a visit.

For the life of me I don’t understand why the other branches haven’t made a solid, quality movie/recruiting tool like Top Gun was for the Navy. The Air Force tried then backed out of Iron Eagles. Still one of my favorites even though it gets so much wrong. Heartbreak Ridge was pretty good for the Corps even though the real event was an Army Ranger battalion. There’s a few good ones set during WWII, with the closest to modern and pro-military to some point was Blackhawk Down. Frankly, the reason IMO is because Hollywood dislikes portraying the military, especially infantrymen, as the good guys. Anything the AF signs onto for technical assistance in an air power type movie is going to automatically be called a Top Gun ripoff, even if TG 2 is essentially Star Wars. I’m honestly not sure how to make a solid flick for the Air Force. The Army & Corps is a bit easier: special operations. And maybe even the AF could help get a script out for AFSOC. But, again, spec ops movies have been done over and over. Probably my idea for a modern era (last 30yrs) would be a modern tank movie. A film about 73 Easting would be good.

I can almost imagin the thought - Well, I'm behind him I can still get him do that THEN recover this plane.

The epitome of a leader.

Where your wrong is he didnt have shit going for him but , attitude for success!

Another words, get out of my way and let me succeed!

MosT Aces

No such thing as "naturally" gifted

As I leave this world, and having been part of this so called, "greatest generation" I have what is the single most recurring question amongst my, mostly late contemporaries. "How the hell did we ever allow this cultural, nightmare of sexual this and that( please reader, don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about), heroes so deformed from multiple plastic surgeries, that they barely pass for human...and who would much prefer little boys to gorgeous young movie stars. That's enough, I'll try to stop. Wait, wait, Most of these modern day heroes would NEVER look up to Robin as a hero! To most of them he's just a knuckle scraping killer of innocent civilians. Yes, we did this!!! They are our grandkids, Great nephews and nieces, am I even allowed to mention that there's a difference without a fine, and jail time? Please wake up my precious AMERICA!!!! I love you and all of your Robin Olds so much! If there was ever a case of be careful what you ask for. Well, we wanted our kids and our grandkids to go to college right? Now you can thank, Satre, Marx, Lenin (both of them, spelling not withstanding), We did it!!! Our kids, (The greatest generation Jr.) Please help us Lord before it's legal for a man to marry a salad bowl. Thank you, and God Bless You Robin.👍

I served as a weapons mechanic in Ubon for Col. Olds. We were a family. He was kind and polite to us. He would say hello Airman Goodman. We would keep him informed of any thing he ask. I will never forget the air show and party when the 8th TFW returned from operation Bolo.

Hammy did you see the Peninsula Seniors talk by his daughter? YT video SwBK0a3n658

Stay in it youngster, it will provide a lifetime of amazement and enjoyment and learning!

So are you going to be a Fighter Pilot? Your generation and my sons could very well be the last.

@@farminky yes

Lol

My dad got into the Air Force in 1973 the same year Olds retired. My dad went into Basic a Airman and left a Buck Sergeant to tech school.

True.. Very True

Excellent comment !