![[salute]](./images/smilies/smiley_salute.gif "Salute")
Robin Olds passed last night, 14 June, approx 2215
hrs. He died peaceably in his sleep. He had been pretty sedated the last
few
days.
Funeral arrangements aren't firm yet but looks like it will be at the
AFACAD
possible mid-July.
Robin Olds, the son of Major General Robert Olds, spent his youth traveling between Army bases and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on June 1, 1943. He joined the 434th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, based in Wattisham, England, and flew a P-38J Lightning (specifications) named 'Scat'. In August 1944, he became an ace after his first two combat missions, claiming two FW-190s on the 14th and three Me-109s (specifications) on the 25th. Nine of his victories were scored in the P-38 Lightning, making him the top P-38 ace in the 8th Air Force. He scored four more victories in the P-51D (specifications), named 'Scat VI', coded L2-W (44-72922). He ended World War II with 13 victories and 1 damaged.
In 1949, Olds commanded the British Royal Air Force No. 1 Squadron as an exchange officer. In September 1966, he became commanding officer of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon, Thailand. He flew an F-4C Phantom II named 'Scat XXVII'. On January 2, 1967, he shot down a MiG-21, then scored another victory against a MiG-21 on May 4, 1967. On May 20, he destroyed two more MiG-21s, for a total of 4 victories. General Olds is the only ace with air to air victories in nonconsecutive wars. He flew 105 combat missions in the F4 Phantom with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. When asked to describe his first air to air victory in Vietnam, Colonel Olds responded,\"To make a long story short, the MiG lost.\"
Promoted to brigadier general, General Olds became Commander of Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 and retired in 1973. During his career, General Olds received the Air Force Cross, Silver Star with 3 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 39 oak leaf clusters, British Flying Cross and French Croix de Guerre.