Robin Olds, RIP

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:58 am

Sent to me by a noted aviation author

Robin passed last night, 14 June, approx 2215 hrs. He died peaceably in his sleep. He had been pretty sedated the last few days.

Another hero gone west

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:26 am

Sad day...but an amazing military officer and aviator. As a former Black Eagle, I'm proud to say I belonged to the same Fighter Group that he flew in in WWII and led in Vietnam.

He wouldn't want mourning...he'd want cigar smoking and drinking and singing fighter songs.

Quote:

We flew in the Wolfpack with Robin Olds
Some of us ain't coming back
In a Foxtrot-Four called the Phantom II
We flew with the Red River Rats

Robin came over to Ubon, an ace with 22* kills
He led the 8th Wing to victory
In the skies over Hanoi's hills

The 435th and the Night Owls, too
The Nickel and the 433rd
Went with Robin through the jaws of Hell
Leading the Wolfpack herd

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:30 am

Sad news indeed. I wil toast one up to a great fighter pilot. Godspeed General. :drink3:

Robbie

C5Bgal · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:36 am

I'm coming out of "lurk mode" for this. I met Brig. Gen. Olds when he did a symposium for Yankee Air Museum in June 2005 and he really was unforgettable. After he spoke, he ended it with "ok, now where's my scotch?" You couldn't help but smile! I'm glad he signed my book full of photos of my aviation art. Yes, Randy, he'd want us all to party! I was honored to have met him.

sabredriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:39 am

I dread to hear this information, as i only asked the other day , i hope it aint true.. a darn good person he is .. i do hope he is given a big send off he deserves it for sure.

sabredriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:46 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds

this is a superb write up

Zachary · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:20 am

I met Gen. Olds a few times when he had come to AirVenture, and he was always such a warm person to talk to. Always had a smile on his face and was never one to turn anybody away. He was a great supporter of EAA and was in fact one of the very first aviators interviewed for EAA's Timeless Voices of Aviation oral history program. May he rest in peace...

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:24 am

That is very sad to hear. I was hoping to meet him at EAA this year. I hope that his family is O.K. during this tough time.

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

This is truly a sad day. I met him a few times at Osh, oh man, what a great person and story teller.

I wished to see him again in a month....

RIP Sir, I salute you.

Jesse C. · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:40 am

Never met him, but I am sure he was a heck of a person judging by all your fine tributes to him. It is sad to think that most of our heros are now getting into the their later years and we may now loose them sooner than we hoped.

Next time you see a good friend, shake his or her hand, hugs are good too, and tell them how much they mean to you.

You all be good!

Prayers and Condolences to his family and friends

Vaya con Dios

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:03 pm

So glad I got to meet him at Moody AFB in 2003. Rare privilege to 'hang' with him for a couple of days during their reunion as I was there as a humble aviation artist - glad I also decided to tag along with him as he went through seat training for his AT-38 ride. Gave me the chance to talk to him one on one.

A 'real' fighter pilot if there ever was one, and surely the tallest WWII 8th Air Force P-51 and P-38 jock, eh?

Wade

Karpis · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:03 pm

I am among those who never met this colorful man but wish I had. There are so few man or women left who have had such an illustrious past. God bless his spirit.

Nathan · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:33 pm

God Speed!

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

A little tribute on the front page of my site.

Zachary · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:40 pm

Well done Paul - very nice and fitting tribute to a true American hero!

Thanks for sharing.

Zack

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Robin Olds, RIP

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