Talking about then Col. Robin Olds and his
Vietnam War exploits, discussed here in this review of a new book out on the stud pilot and All American hellraiser:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303382504575164841740414472.html?KEYWORDS=robin+olds. The review points out that Olds actually flew around 150 missions, well over the specified limit of 100. I had heard that he did the extras after he had reached 100 but the WSJ piece says it was before. Anyway, now we don't have the opportunity to see another Robin Olds; what with no real air force to challenge us unless Obama decides to duke it out with the Israelis. Also, the Tailhook deal seems to have flushed a lot of the testosterone out of the pilot fraternity which is maybe at odds with the whole highly A personality driven profession that is being a fighter jock. Lots of stuff has been written about this both pro and con so I won't regenerate that debate. Olds bit the dust a few years back and it's a crying shame that I didn't get to spend an evening with him and a bottle of good scotch.
Vietnam War exploits, discussed here in this review of a new book out on the stud pilot and All American hellraiser:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303382504575164841740414472.html?KEYWORDS=robin+olds. The review points out that Olds actually flew around 150 missions, well over the specified limit of 100. I had heard that he did the extras after he had reached 100 but the WSJ piece says it was before. Anyway, now we don't have the opportunity to see another Robin Olds; what with no real air force to challenge us unless Obama decides to duke it out with the Israelis. Also, the Tailhook deal seems to have flushed a lot of the testosterone out of the pilot fraternity which is maybe at odds with the whole highly A personality driven profession that is being a fighter jock. Lots of stuff has been written about this both pro and con so I won't regenerate that debate. Olds bit the dust a few years back and it's a crying shame that I didn't get to spend an evening with him and a bottle of good scotch.
1 comment:
I just finished this. As you know, most of his career was before my time, but I tend to think of myself as some sort of history lover. It's a good read. It's nice to see that even when half the country turns against them the military is still there to protect the ass of the entire country, regardless of beliefs. Thanks for the heads up on the book.
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