Interceptor vs Escort.

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I just saw an interesting interview with Robin Olds. In his second encounter with German aircraft and his third kill he dropped his external tanks without switching his fuel selector so both fans quit durring his attack, which he brought down dead stick. His first and second kills were Fw-190s in a turning fight below 15,000ft.

In Vietnam he was creditted with 4 kills but there are rumors that he had at least 1 or 2 more but didn't take credit because if he did he would be pulled out of combat. When asked, his comment was "I Choose not to answer".

wmaxt
 

I'm working with a guy right now who flew with him in the 555th.
 
Excellent... My Dad met Robin Olds several times before.... Ill have to see what he says about that....

I talked to a few -38 pilots in my time, and just about 100% of them were intimidated by the aircraft and the many different challenges that a dual engined plane can throw at u... The plane just flew differently with the twin boom...

But once they mastered it, they were efficient killing machines and thought the craft the best thing in the sky...
 
The fellow I work with who served under Robin Olds, Larry Rider is a Sales Rep for Ximango Aircraft - didn't come in today - I'll hit him up the next time I see him.
 
OK FOLKS! - Got together today with Larry Rider (Lt.Col USAF Ret.) He flew with Robin Olds during Operation Bolo in 1966, had some interesting stuff to say......

Larry told me when you went into a briefing with Olds, he started out low key, but as the briefing went on you could see him get fired up to the point where you felt like you were preparing for a football game and the coach was giving you the pre-game pep-talk. Real inspirational leader....

When I asked Larry about Olds shooting down more than 4 Migs, he grinned and said, "I can't confirm or deny." Actually he did tell me it was rumored that Olds actually had 6 to 8 kills.......

Apparently Olds made Brigadier prior to going to Viet Nam. He allowed himself to be "redlined" so he was reduced in rank and made CO of the 555th as a Bird Colonel - he was not ready to sit behind a desk!

I asked Larry if he ever engaged Migs, he said "a few times, never got a kill." He did say that one time he locked on to something going pretty fast, his WSO thought it was a MiG-21. As he was being vectored toward the target (thinking he was going to get his first kill) a Navy Talos missile was fired from a destroyer (he was off the coast of North Viet Nam) and killed the target
 
FB said:
As he was being vectored toward the target (thinking he was going to get his first kill) a Navy Talos missile was fired from a destroyer (he was off the coast of North Viet Nam) and killed the target
Click to expand...

well that's just not cricket.........
 
FLYBOYJ said:
I'll ask Larry if I could post HOW Olds got redlined..... It's been kind of kept under wraps.......
Click to expand...

According Olds in the interview he had been put on the roster for confirmation but because he wanted to go to Vietnam he pulled a prank. When his CO. told him off and thretened to pull his name from the roster he said "Yes Sir", smiled and left without being dismissed. All it did was delay things anyway.

wmaxt
 
OK - "I will not confirm or deny....."

Upon getting one star, things were a bit boring. Olds was part of an aerial demonstration team called the "Acrojets" after WW2, he liked putting on shows. On a whim, I guess he decided to put on an unapproved airshow at a foreign base. I guess this wasn't a matter of a few aircraft, I guess he had a whole wing under his command whiz around this SAC base for a day. The base commander (his boss) didn't take too lightly to this. After some butt-chewing (which probably rolled off him) his name was placed on the red-line list. Not only wasn't he getting a 2nd star, he was actually getting demoted, provided he didn't just retire then (which he could of). After some words with his boss, he was told "That attitude could get you sent to Viet Nam." Olds took that as an order and showed up in Thailand! Eventually he was given the 555th.
 
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