Who Is Robin Olds? Age, Biography and Wiki
Robin Olds was born on July 14, 1922, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a prominent United States Air Force general noted for his significant contributions during various military operations, most notably the Vietnam War. Olds distinguished himself as a fighter pilot and a leader who was celebrated for his innovative tactics and charismatic personality. He passed away on June 14, 2007, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire military personnel and aviation enthusiasts.
| Occupation | Football Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1922 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 14 June, 2007 |
| Died Place | Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
Popularity
Robin Olds's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While Robin Olds was primarily known for his achievements in the air force, specifics regarding his physical attributes such as height and weight are less documented. Although not traditionally associated with publicized body statistics, general measurements for males of his time generally ranged around 5'10" (178 cm) in height which was typical for military officers.
Olds played on the varsity college football team in both 1941 and 1942. At 6 feet 2 inches in height (1.88m) and weighing 205 pounds (92 kg), he played tackle on both offense and defense, lettering both seasons.
Army's record in 1941 was 5–3–1, with wins over The Citadel, VMI, Yale, Columbia, and West Virginia, a scoreless tie with Notre Dame, and losses to Harvard, Penn and Navy. The loss to the midshipmen was followed eight days later by the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Robin Olds was married to actress and model, Ella Raines, from 1947 until their divorce in 1950. He later married his second wife, who was a significant support throughout his military career. Family life was challenging due to his commitments, but Olds remained dedicated to his family, showcasing a strong sense of duty not only to his country but to his loved ones.
in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 14, 1922, into an army family and spent much of his boyhood in Hampton, Virginia, where he attended elementary and high school.
His father was Captain (later Major General) Robert Oldys (later Olds), an instructor pilot in France during World War I, former aide to Brigadier General Billy Mitchell from 1922 to 1925, and a leading advocate of strategic bombing in the Air Corps. His mother, Eloise Karine Oldys, died when Robin was four and he was raised by his father.
He had one younger brother, Stevan Meigs, two younger paternal half-brothers, Sterling Meigs "Dusty" and Frederick A., born from his father's third marriage to Helen Post Sterling and an older maternal half-brother, Carter Nott, born from his mother's first marriage to Frederick Dickson Nott.
Net Worth and Salary
By the time of his passing in 2007, Robin Olds had built a substantial net worth through his military career and subsequent business opportunities. It’s estimated that his net worth was in the range of several million dollars, reflecting his accomplishments and experiences throughout his life. Specific figures regarding his salary during military service remain undisclosed, but as a general, he would have been compensated very well within the U.S. military salary structure.
Olds' fondness for alcohol was well known. John Darrell Sherwood, in his book Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience, posits that Olds' heavy drinking hurt his post-Vietnam career. On July 12, 2001, Olds was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting arrest near his home in Steamboat Springs.
Olds, briefly hospitalized during the incident for facial cuts, pleaded guilty in return for charges of weaving and felony vehicular eluding being dropped. Olds was placed on one year probation, and ordered to pay almost $900 in fines and costs, attend an alcohol education course, and perform 72 hours of community service.
Career, Business and Investments
Robin Olds had a distinguished military career, flying numerous combat missions and earning several commendations for his service. After retiring from the Air Force in 1973, he transitioned into a civilian career, which included roles in consulting and aviation-related ventures. Olds was also involved in various charitable organizations and veteran affairs, continuing to serve his community even after leaving active duty.
The son of U.S. Army Air Forces Major General Robert Olds, educated at West Point, and the product of an upbringing in the early years of the U.S. Army Air Corps, Olds epitomized the youthful World War II fighter pilot.
He remained in the service as it became the United States Air Force, despite often being at odds with its leadership, and was one of its pioneer jet pilots.
Rising to the command of two fighter wings, Olds is regarded among aviation historians, and his peers, as the best wing commander of the Vietnam War, for both his air-fighting skills, and his reputation as a combat leader.
Social Network
Although Robin Olds did not have a significant presence on social media platforms during his lifetime, his legacy is honored through various military and historical pages. His contributions are often recognized in aviation forums and military history discussions online. Today, fans, former colleagues, and historians continue to share stories and celebrate Olds’ impactful life through social media channels dedicated to military history.
Although in Dogfights S1EP2, Robin Olds recounts this memory of the P-38 needing help with some variance. He says "I went on into the fight, got another one, BE (His wing man) got two others with one pass.
Then I looked down and there was a North American P-51 Mustang, and where he came from; I have no idea." The Narrator then tells the viewers that the P-51 Mustang is being chased by two Bf 109s. Olds dove to help and in his excitement dove too fast. This led him to be subject to compressibility.
Upon reaching the denser air at lower altitudes he regained control of his P-38 and pulled up. This led to his canopy window blowing out due to excess G forces.
He said "It sounds like an exaggeration but I managed to pull out, right above this wheat field near the town of Rostock." That made him one of very few that have recovered from a compressibility event.
"After that I had enough, I was ready to go home" But a string of tracer fire across his nose brought him right back into the fight, as a Bf 109 dove from behind on him. Weighing his options, he decided to risk it all and flat planed. While pulling hard on the yoke and turning hard left at 90°.
That made him shutter into a high speed stall, the air combat equivalent of locking the brakes. The Bf 109 passed beneath him and as he rolled the nose down he fired, taking the Bf 109 out before heading home.
Education
Robin Olds graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1943, solidifying a foundation that would lead him to a successful military career. His education did not stop there; he continued to expand his knowledge and skills in aeronautics and warfare strategies throughout his military service.
In conclusion, Robin Olds remains an iconic figure in military history, and his contributions to the United States Air Force continue to resonate. Despite his passing, his story is preserved through the myriad of resources, biographies, and dedicated followers who remember his legacy.
In 1942 he was named by Collier's Weekly as its "Lineman of the Year" and by Grantland Rice as "Player of the Year." Olds was also selected as an All-American as the cadets compiled a 6–3 record, beating Lafayette College, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, VMI, and Princeton, and falling to Notre Dame, Penn, and Navy.
In the Army–Navy Game of 1942, which was played at Annapolis instead of Philadelphia, Olds had both upper front teeth knocked out when he received a forearm blow to the mouth while making a tackle.
Olds returned to the game and reportedly was cheered by the Navy Third and Fourth Classes, which were assigned as the Army cheering section when wartime travel restrictions prevented the Corps of Cadets from attending. In 1985 Olds was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
