Brigadier General Robin Olds (4) - Fly/In Cruise/In

[@daveskinner5131]

General Olds was a class act. We met, I was wearing an Air Force squadron hat and so was he, we looked at each other, said "Nice hat!" and that started a friendship I didn't fully appreciate for what it was. Eventually, he gave me a Scat hat and I still wear it once in awhile. He's missed.

[@kathygiuliani6864]

Watching his gun camera films he was a great shot. Nice tight patterns right on target.

[@aerospot2]

Amazing life story. Wish they would make a movie!

[@songojune]

3:00 If you’ve ever looked out the window of your airliner at a towering clouds and wondered what it’d be like to indulge yourself at the stick of a fighter jet. Another priceless story from this legend, may he RIP. These interview clips are underrated.

[@PacificAirwave144]

His description of the joy of flying (the last minute and a half) was just wonderful! Like 'High Flight' by MaGee but look at his eyes and body language--there's a lot going on there! A human being in charge of a machine that can take you vertically around a thunderstorm...Wow! Robin Olds, you were AWESOME!!

[@Caterpillarjon]

A True American Hero, God Bless You Robin Olds!

[@Mr777scary]

Thanks for this!!! God I love Robin Olds, the BEST!

[@harhd1]

HE IS A PERSONAL HERO TO ME , MAY GOD KEEP YOU AS HIS WINGMAN SIR

[@WJSpies]

I got to Ubon RTAFB Thailand about six months after he rotated back to the US, maybe less. His presence was stamped all over that airfield. His attitude (get it done the best way possible which was usually the easiest way) was prevalent everywhere, w/ almost every airman and officer there. No bullshit please. There was a casual relationship between everyone, rank was recognized as important but never a big hang up. I was once attacked by three officer w/ water pistols just for some fun. I saw a base fire truck roll into the officer's club back door, the same day, open it and hose out everyone in it, just to cut tension and let off some steam. It was welcomed and only increased respect among all ranks. It was said he'd come on the flightline at night w/ a case of beer and sit and talked w/ the maintenance guys. He was just digging around to find out the best way to do things, what any major concerns might be among guys keeping the planes flying. His attitude was the planes belonged to the repair and maintenance people, not the officers flying them. He often said so. I was later transfered to another base, in Thailand it was nice but a whole different world, lots of chicken shit. The high up brass in Washington didn't like him. But they were forced to respect him because he got huge things done, things that weren't ever done before or since. At Ubon while he was there nearly everyone had grown a mustache, because he had grown a huge one that was far from regulation. First thing when he got back to the US they told him to cut it off. Then they promoted him to general. They had to. He had probably been marked to go all the way up the Pentagon ladder but didn't because he often disobeyed standing orders - the stupid ones. He hated stupid orders. It's why he was so successful in war, just cut the shit please.

[@6346n]

When he descibed going over the top of the cloud, looking through the top of his canopy at the top of the cloud, floating on his back, that really grabbed me! That's a flyer talking! I've performed that very manuever, myself! Read his autobiography. His eloquence, insight, and humor are not to be missed! It's a great read!

[@jimr7154]

God Bless Robin and rest in peace A Real American Hero !

[@nimaakhtarkhavari8766]

A true hero...

[@2424gig]

john Wayne of the sky'es . Thanks to them we 're free.

[@jasonbischel735]

I'd like to see how many american pilots would stand up to the strain of flying combat for 5 or 6 years. They talk about how hard it was to fly mission after mission until the magic number of 50, then they could go home. Stuka pilot Hans Rudel flew 2,500 combat missions. Now that's the definition of heroism. We're not talking about opposing sides, we're talking about the men who deserve worldwide respect and admiration for their unshakable loyalty and dedication to their country and their brothers who flew with them. The German fighter pilot showed the world what it means to be steadfast in their duty no matter what, whether it's for a day or for eternity, for their country. Not for a goal of "50 missions and I'm going home".

[@billyleroy2465]

what year is this interview?

[@FlyInCruiseIn]

Billy Leroy about 15 years ago.

[@billyleroy2465]

Thanks!

[@timf2279]

I would never associate the word "Complacent" with Robin Olds. I'm sure some of the pilots he shot down were complacent though.

[@xxchinookxx]

What the U.S. should do is erase Columbus Day and recognize our real heros like Robin Olds, Richie, Cunningham and have their names on the calender instead. Columbus didn't discover crap.....

[@Sshooter444]

Olds wouldn't be here without Columbus