"She Brought Me Home"

Gen. Robin Olds, USAF Ret., attended the Reno Air Races this year. In this photograph by Sue Petersen, the General shows his affection for one of the planes that made him famous.

The following comments are excerpts from an article published in the
USAF News at http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/olds.htm
by chief Master Sgt. Tom Kuhn

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Triple-ace Robin Olds had ideas about tactical air power that were as big as he is, all six-foot, two inches of him. With missionary fervor and a sprinkling of salty language, he argued for better fighters, better pilot training, new tactics. When dogfighting practice was discouraged between wars, Olds snuck behind the clouds and did it anyway.

By 1944, Robin Olds was escorting the bombers in a long-range P-51 Mustang named Scat V. At war's end flying Scat VII, Olds had shot down 13 German planes and destroyed 11.5 others on the ground. He added four MiGs during the Vietnam War, for a total of 17 kills.

Olds, known for the flamboyantly waxed, regimental mustache he sported in Vietnam, talked openly about his individuality. An oil painting of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby of the War-gaming Institute at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

"Generals visiting Vietnam would kind of laugh at the mustache," said Olds. "I was far away from home. It was a gesture of defiance. The kids on base loved it. Most everybody grew a mustache."

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

click here for the full story

photograph © 2000 Sue Petersen all rights reserved
photographer contact Wings-n-Things Photography

Former Pictures of the Week

9-05-00 "Cloud Dancer Overcast" CLICK HERE	10-01-00 "Flame Dance" CLICK HERE	10-09-00 "Jack Dickie Memorial" CLICK HERE