Posted on Apr 22, 2022
Robin Olds: The assertive innovator - VAntage Point
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Fighter Pilot
WWII World War Two
Vietnam War
Europe
Military History
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 4
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Outstanding Information MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.! I had heard of his actions during Vietnam; however I didn’t know his backstory!
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
He learned from one of the best group COs in the Eighth Air Force: Col. Hubert "Hub" Zemke, himself a high-scoring ace with 19 aerial victories and 12 strafing kills. Zemke was CO of the 56th Fighter Grp. for much of its existence, but took over Olds' 479th FG after their first CO was shot down. Zemke commanded the group for a couple of months before flying into a thunderstorm over Germany in Sept. '44 and having his P-51D torn apart. He managed to get clear of the wreckage and safely parachute to the ground. He spent the remainder of the war as the senior Allied officer POW at Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany. Zemke's style of upfront leadership rubbed off on Olds, who employed it in Vietnam. FYI: We lost our Internet for nearly 48 hours before our provider solved the problem.
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ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Capt. Robin Olds' 434th FS, 479th FG P-38J "Scat II," based at RAF Wattisham, UK, June 1944. (2) 479th FG ace Capt. Robin Olds bags an Fw-190A with his 434th FS P-51D "Scat VI." (3) 479th FG ace Capt. Robin Olds releases his P-51D's external fuel tanks before attacking an Me-109G over Germany in late 1944. (4) Capt. Robin Olds leads a flight of 479th FG P-51Ds back to base after a raid over Germany, in early 1945. (5) Col. Robin Olds and his WSO, Lt. Col. Chappie James, down two MiG-17s with their F-4 Phantom II on 2 Jan. 1967. (6) Col. Robin Olds and his wingman prepare to engage MiG-17s over N. Vietnam in their 8th TFW F-4 Phantoms on 20 May 1967.
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Another outside the box thinker that has to fight the ingrained brass to change. Thanks for the excellent share MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
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