Brigadier General Robin Olds
1922 - 2007

The News Channel report - tribute to Robin Olds: http://tinyurl.com/2nw3ak

Stories of Robin Olds, including a lengthy piece "REMEMBERING ROBIN by Barrett Tillman"

The Twin Bases obituary to Robin Olds prompted a lot of responses - they are published below:

 

From: Park Sims
Linn
Your obit on Gen Robin Olds stimulated my memory.
When Robin Olds was Wing Commander of the 81TFW at Bentwaters/Woodbridge, his second-in-command was Colonel Daniel "Chappie" James, a black officer who went on to be one of our first black generals, and eventually became a 'four-star' -- one of the highest ranking officers in the USAF. I was privileged to be at his retirement 'party' at the USAF Academy in about 1976, when a huge auditorium of USAF people turned up to say goodbye to him. The principal performer at the party was one Sammy Davis Jr.. Turns out Sammy and Chappie has been fellow singers on the US 'negro' nightclub circuit when they were young. They remained close friends forever. They sang a duet on the retirement evening, which was truly fabulous.
Anyway, when Chappie and Gen Olds were Commander and Vice Commander at Bentwaters, they were affectionately known as "Blackman and Robin". Neat, eh?
Park

 

Ron Burrell:
I took these photos after visiting Robin Olds' place of rest
click on any thumbnails to see a larger version:

       

 

 

From: John Sertic
Robin Olds was at Bentwaters for a short period when I was there. He was flying a F101, and I was giving him a precision approach in horrible weather with a ceiling of 200 feet and visibility 1 ½ miles, after he landed he called me and thanked me for the great job. Two weeks later, I had him again on another precision approach, and I had to pull him off the final because he was over taking an F80 3 miles ahead. I finally got him on the ground and this time he called and chewed me out, for pulling him off final approach. His attitude was that the F80 should have gone around, did I not know he was the commander of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. I was kind of relieved when he left in 1965, along with most of the Air traffic controllers at Bentwaters.
John
New York

 

From: RAYMOND V. MORGAN
Many thanks for keeping this running history of our past. Of all my assignments in 20 years, I remember the RAF Bentwaters-Woodbridge service as a second home.
Robin Olds was special, he treated the enlisted personnel with respect and dignity.
RAYMOND V. MORGAN
MSgt, USAF Ret.

 

From: Roger Baker
Thank you very much for sending the link concerning General Robins Olds. I was stationed with the 8th TFW at Ubon Thailand during one of my Southeast Asia tours during the Vietnam war. Colonel Olds reputation remained the driving spirit for the Wolfpack and served as inspiration to the Men and women stationed with the 8th TFW. He was an "Old School" fighter pilot. His passing will leave a gap that will not be filled. Many of us owe him a great debt. He made a difference in the lives of many military people.
I never met the Colonel Olds, but felt I knew him from his legacy. He was a hero by any definition.
Thank you again...
Roger D Baker
MSgt USAF Ret.

 

From: Dan Aycock
Interesting you should send this. Gen. Olds spent a while in my area here after retirement. I don't remember what he did but I recall the notoriety he created. I was familiar with his name when I was in the service, due to his time at the AF Academy I think.
Dan Aycock
79th TFS-Weapons
RAF Woodbridge, UK
66-69

 

From: Dave Bowser
Linn thank you for passing this on. I was in the 81st when he was there.
Dave Bowser

 

From: Jimmie Safrit
Thanks for the e-mail regarding the passing of Col Olds (as I will always remember him). I recall when he first took over the 81st, he made a trip thru the office of Col Swanzig, for whom I worked and in speaking to me, he called me corporal, which I thought was odd. But odd it was not for he had gone back to his days of WWII.
This nation has lost a true hero and a true American and I mourn his passing just as I know many others do also.
For God and Country
Jim Safrit

 

From: R Gilmore
Wow.
Thank you Linn. I took a moment to read of his accomplishments and was instantly reminded of why we did what we did...and do!
R. Gilmore

 

From: NINTHAF
Thanks for the story.
Quite a warrior.

 

From: Ron Radliff
Thanks Linn,
Back in the 60s, Robin Olds held movie star status, at least among those of us in the Air Force. He was a real hero.
Ron

 

From: Herb Harper
I was Armament Line Chief in the 433rd TFS when Olds got his four MiGs.
I have his photo, autographed to me in my "Pub Room" along with some other items. I presented him with the umbilical cable from the sidewinder missile, that he got his first MiG with. And I still have an umbilical cable from a sidewinder that he fired on 20 May 1967 when he got his last two MiGs.
I have been in touch with him from time to time, BUT did not know he had been in hospital.
Herb Harper, former weapons release shop NCOIC, 20 TFW Wethersfield, 1967-70

 

From: Mike Angelastro
Very sad news indeed Linn. Was on the road overseas and had not heard the bad news. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
God Bless,
Mike A "Bearman" (75-77)