Fighter Pilot: the Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds Pdf, Epub, Ebook

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Fighter Pilot: the Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds Pdf, Epub, Ebook FIGHTER PILOT: THE MEMOIRS OF LEGENDARY ACE ROBIN OLDS PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Robin Olds,Christina Olds,Ed Rasimus | 432 pages | 02 Jun 2011 | Griffin Publishing | 9780312569518 | English | California, United States Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds PDF Book Published April 13th by St. Like biographies of such great fighter pilots as Robert Johnson, Dick Bong and Douglas Bader, Olds' is filled with great air combat stories. Olds who retired a brigadier general and died in was a unique individual whose personal story is one of the most eagerly anticipated military books of the year. Filter by:. Olds spent his final years in Steamboat Springs. Learn wha This book is legendary. This one is jam-packed with only the good stuff and reads like a thriller. This book is an excellent explanation of what it is like to be a fighter pilot, although, sadly, many of the more boisterous antics are no longer countenanced. To his P and P wartime squadrons in WWII he was the aggressive fighter pilot who made double ace and became their commander in nine short months. Bruce Feb 20, Matt rated it it was amazing Shelves: wishlist , leadership , world-war-ii , cold-war , usaf , military-history , military-brain-candy , military-biography , air-force-history , air-force-biography. Olds replied, "Well, I'm sure I've been embarrassed this much before--but I really can't remember when. His men loved him, and that probably says it all. My last job as Wing Commander was easy compared to his year in Vietnam leading men at war. Being an AF pilot though not a fighter pilot - just married to one , it was even more fun since I am familiar with many of the terms, aircraft, maneuvers, etc. He would hate his commander in the s for decades until he found out it was his wife's lobbying, not his CO, that kept him out of the Korea War. For example, he casually mentions, without further insight, that he attended the Air Corps Tactical School, which would ultimately form the basis for all air doctrine in the Army Air Forces and eventually the independent Air Force. Robin Olds' memoirs are more than simply a string of combat stories. Across the small void, he saw the pilot's eyes peer over his mask. It is aggressiveness. I was fortunate to hear Robin Olds speak a number of times, and this book is true to his rather abrupt style of speaking. I don't think this book polishes that legend. Jean This book is one of those books you can listen to over and over again. It's just easy to read and flows effortlessly. Martin's Press first published April 1st More in News. Feb 19, Dylan rated it really liked it. The story of Robin Olds was absolutely amazing, this is a true American hero that just made me proud from start to finish. The book was well read. Furthermore, Olds was a maverick who was impatient with bureaucracy, especially if it kept him out of the air or got between him and the enemy. Then, more stream-of-consciousness. Reward accordingly. I was there at the time, and it was an unforgettable experience. More filters. Feb 01, Mark Mears rated it it was amazing. The reader was excellent, bringing life to Olds as he attended West Point and went on to be a fighter pilot accruing aerial victories and leading squadrons with his own unique brusque style that proved to be effective both in WWII and Vietnam. He is truly one of the giants of the USAF. He mentions his early pilot training days and a few significant events briefly, but provides little detail or introspective. Montezuma Does that NCO supervise or just make out reports without checking facts? I'm sure there are a few things that Olds didn't want to expose but he exposed more than I expected him to expose which made this book candid and refreshing. So happy Robin's daughter was able to gather the stories of her father together to create this memorable story. In WWII, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—and an ace with 12 aerial victories. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds Writer Olds tried hard to get assigned to combat duty during the Korean War, but apparently his wife and her TV directors managed to persuade Laurence Rockefeller to use his considerable political influence to get Olds' name off the Korea assignment list every time it came up. Four days before Christmas in , a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. Weasels are the first planes sent into a war zone, flying deep behind enemy lines purposely seeking to draw fire from surface-to-air missiles and artillery. Here, in his own words, is the true story of America's wildest flying hero, of his extraordinary heroism, and of his greatest battle of all-the fight to survive. I have never been left so humbled as reading this book did. His wife had her own issues and I suppose the fact that they made it as long as they did as a couple is testament to their commitment and love for each other and their children. Foster spirit through self-pride, not slogans, and never at the expense of another unit. Please try again. To view it, click here. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A fascinating look into the life of a fighter pilot in the WW2 and Vietnam era. Robertson Dean did a good job narrating the story. After reading the When I first opened the book I felt I was going to get a bare bones honest look into Robin Olds life based on interviews I had seen of him. In order to somewhat control his own future, he enlisted in the US Army's helicopter flight school program. For example, he casually mentions, without further insight, that he attended the Air Corps Tactical School, which would ultimately form the basis for all air doctrine in the Army Air Forces and eventually the independent Air Force. On his second P training flight he almost crashed the aircraft trying to land they didn't call it the Mustang for nothing. I enjoyed it. The reason he said that was that while the F-4 could fly at Mach 2, dogfights typically don't take place at supersonic speeds, and there was no way an F-4 could turn with a MiG Open Preview See a Problem? Nov 27, Jean Boobar rated it it was amazing. Ed Rasimus has a perfect quote about fighter pilots, and that quote fits Robin Olds to a T. To have grown up knowing the pioneers of American aviation, then to have fought through WWII and Vietnam was definitely an interesting story. 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. Appropriately, the book is written in the first person. He is rarely self-critical, and conveys stories in which he is best characterized as a womanizer, a drunk even into retirement , intentionally profane, and wantonly self-centered. Community Reviews. Good information and worth the time if this area of history interests you. But no one forgets Robin Olds. He was part of the first jet demo team, placed second in the Thompson Trophy Race, was the only Americanever to command an RAF squadron, had more kills than any other Air Force pilot in Vietnam, commanded the Air Force Academy, told LBJ off on Vietnam and married movie star Ella Raines, whose most famous role was costarring in Tall in the Saddle with John Wayne who probably would have been the ideal choice to play the flamboyant and oversized fighter pilot in a film bio. May 16, Jake Page rated it it was amazing Shelves: biography. We are sorry. Aside from a wide variety of profane language, scant references to faith include making sure a Catholic Chaplain went home from Vietnam the long way around the globe retribution for a poor report , and mocking pre-mission prayers by a Chaplain at a B unit. He was politically incorrect and ignored the rules when it made sense to do so. This is a dang good book. He was happy flying for room and board; it never occurred to him he would be paid money to fly. I found myself laughing and even quite distraught at times. Would have loved to have been here when he was Commandant! Other Editions Robertson Dean's performance as Robin Olds is fantastic. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds Reviews When I first opened the book I felt I was going to get a bare bones honest look into Robin Olds life based on interviews I had seen of him. He was a vital part of what made the Greatest Generation great. Robertson Dean does a superlative job with the narration. Read more I was fortunate to hear Robin Olds speak a number of times, and this book is true to his rather abrupt style of speaking. The story of his attempts to juggle his career with his family responsibilities are particularly touching. Thanks for telling us about the problem. It is self-confidence. He tells of an experience when an F was brought to the Academy to be dedicated as a reminder of all those who fought in the air above Vietnam. In World War II, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—a double ace with 12 aerial victories.
Recommended publications
  • Up from Kitty Hawk Chronology
    airforcemag.com Up From Kitty Hawk Chronology AIR FORCE Magazine's Aerospace Chronology Up From Kitty Hawk PART ONE PART TWO 1903-1979 1980-present 1 airforcemag.com Up From Kitty Hawk Chronology Up From Kitty Hawk 1903-1919 Wright brothers at Kill Devil Hill, N.C., 1903. Articles noted throughout the chronology provide additional historical information. They are hyperlinked to Air Force Magazine's online archive. 1903 March 23, 1903. First Wright brothers’ airplane patent, based on their 1902 glider, is filed in America. Aug. 8, 1903. The Langley gasoline engine model airplane is successfully launched from a catapult on a houseboat. Dec. 8, 1903. Second and last trial of the Langley airplane, piloted by Charles M. Manly, is wrecked in launching from a houseboat on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Dec. 17, 1903. At Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk, N.C., Orville Wright flies for about 12 seconds over a distance of 120 feet, achieving the world’s first manned, powered, sustained, and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air machine. The Wright brothers made four flights that day. On the last, Wilbur Wright flew for 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet. (Three days earlier, Wilbur Wright had attempted the first powered flight, managing to cover 105 feet in 3.5 seconds, but he could not sustain or control the flight and crashed.) Dawn at Kill Devil Jewel of the Air 1905 Jan. 18, 1905. The Wright brothers open negotiations with the US government to build an airplane for the Army, but nothing comes of this first meeting.
    [Show full text]
  • FAA Safety Briefing
    November/DecemberMarch/April 2020 2019 8 19 Federal Aviation WhatA Very is Long WTIC? Title for One of the Feature TitleOperation of One ICICLEFeature Administration 10MakingStories Weather Could Possibly Technology Go in and this Space 16NewStory FAA Goes Program Here Tackles Information in the Cockpit Work for You Aircraft Icing ABOUT THIS ISSUE ... U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration ISSN: 1057-9648 FAA Safety Briefing March/April 2020 Volume 60/Number 2 The March/April 2020 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on the variety of tools and technology aviators Elaine L. Chao Secretary of Transportation can use to avoid and/or safely mitigate what we’ve Steve Dickson Administrator dubbed as UMC, or Unfriendly Meteorological Condi- Ali Bahrami Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety tions. Feature articles cover some of the FAA’s weather Rick Domingo Executive Director, Flight Standards Service research work and programs, including more effective Susan K. Parson Editor ways to convey cockpit weather imagery, icing avoidance, Managing Editor Tom Hoffmann and the use of weather cameras. We also sit down with Associate Editor / Photo Editor James Williams the new FAA Administrator, Steve Dickson, to discuss his Jennifer Caron Copy Editor / Quality Assurance Lead take on general aviation safety. Paul Cianciolo Associate Editor / Social Media Alan Wallace Art Director Cover image courtesy of Garmin. Published six times a year, FAA Safety Briefing, formerly FAA Aviation News, promotes aviation safety by discussing current technical, regulatory, and procedural aspects affecting the safe Contact Information operation and maintenance of aircraft. Although based on current The magazine is available on the internet at: FAA policy and rule interpretations, all material is advisory or www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing informational in nature and should not be construed to have regulatory effect.
    [Show full text]
  • 222: Thursday, May 17, 2001 - 1:00 P.M
    Sale 222: Thursday, May 17, 2001 - 1:00 p.m. Americana East and West The Jeffery Hansen Collection of Signed Military Aviation Books Section I: Americana East & West Including Manuscript Material 1. Adams, John Quincy. Signature on a slip of paper, "John Quincy Adams, Quincy, Massachusetts." In ink. The slip is 2-1/2x4-1/4. Quincy, MA: 1844 Below the signature, on the same sheet of paper, is written The above autograph was written Jany. 25th, 1844 and was presented by A.C. Robbins. Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was 77 when he signed this slip of paper, serving as a member of Congress from Massachusetts; he was to live another four years. The paper is slightly darkened, still fine. (800/1200) 2. (African-American Interest) The Anti-Slavery Record. Vol. II, for 1836. Contains Vol. II, Nos. 1-12, (Jan.- Dec., 1836). (Wear to extremities, some foxing within.) New York: American Anti-Slavery Society, 1836. * Read, Hollis. The Negro Problem Solved; or, Africa as She Was, and as She Shall Be. Her Curse and Her Cure. (Wear to extremities, front joint cracked with cover nearly detached, earlier glue repair.) New York: A.A. Constantine, 1864. * Niles, John J. Singing Soldiers. Illus. by Margaret Thorniley Williamson. Jacket. (Jacket spine rubbed, ends worn, price clipped; inscription on front free endpaper.) New York: Scribner's, 1927. * Nearing, Scott. Black America. Illus. from photographs. New York: Vanguard Press, 1929. Together, 4 vols. Original cloth. First Editions. New York: various dates Very good or better condition. (200/300) 3. (American Revolution) The Remembrancer, or Impartial Repository of Public Events.
    [Show full text]
  • Know the Past ...Shape the Future
    SUMMER 2018 - Volume 65, Number 2 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future The Air Force Historical Foundation Founded on May 27, 1953 by Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and other air power pioneers, the Air Force Historical All members receive our exciting and informative Foundation (AFHF) is a nonprofi t tax exempt organization. Air Power History Journal, either electronically or It is dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and on paper, covering: all aspects of aerospace history appropriate publication of the history and traditions of American aviation, with emphasis on the U.S. Air Force, its • Chronicles the great campaigns and predecessor organizations, and the men and women whose the great leaders lives and dreams were devoted to fl ight. The Foundation • Eyewitness accounts and historical articles serves all components of the United States Air Force— Active, Reserve and Air National Guard. • In depth resources to museums and activities, to keep members connected to the latest and AFHF strives to make available to the public and greatest events. today’s government planners and decision makers information that is relevant and informative about Preserve the legacy, stay connected: all aspects of air and space power. By doing so, the • Membership helps preserve the legacy of current Foundation hopes to assure the nation profi ts from past and future US air force personnel. experiences as it helps keep the U.S. Air Force the most modern and effective military force in the world. • Provides reliable and accurate accounts of historical events. The Foundation’s four primary activities include a quarterly journal Air Power History, a book program, a • Establish connections between generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Self Guided Tour Book GOOD.Pub
    Edward Pernotto Aviation Artwork Gallery He Who Dares: Ensign Jesse Brown by Rick Reeves Devotion: Jesse Brown and Thomas Hudner by Matt Hall In becoming the U. S. Navy's first African American aviator, Ensign Jesse Leroy Brown fulfilled a childhood dream to fly. Brown enrolled in The Ohio State University in 1944 as an engineering major and was accepted into the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp program. He Who Dares After graduation, he served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War and died at the age of 24 after crash landing into the mountains of North Korean during a battle. His wingman, LTJG Thomas Hudger, purposely crash-landed his own plane in an attempt to rescue Brown. The scene of the two crashes is depicted in the print entitled "Devotion". Thomas Hudner was later awarded the nation’s highest award for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his attempted rescue of Jesse Brown. Tuskegee Airmen and their connection to Ohio Devotion African Americans have served in every major military conflict in which the United States has fought, although for many years the American military, like the country at large, was segregated. Among the most well-known groups of African American service members were the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of black pilots to serve in the United States military. These members of the United States Army Air Forces served with distinction during World War II. They received numerous combat awards, including 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars and three Presiden- tial Unit Citations. In total, nearly 16,000 people served with the Tuskegee Airmen as air traffic controllers, bombardiers, flight instructors, mechanics, navigators, pilots and technicians.
    [Show full text]
  • American Aces of World War I Some Famous US Fighter Firsts
    In compiling this list of aces who have destroyed enemy aircraft in the tains World War I victory credits for flew with the US Air Force and its air. The Office of the Air Force Histo- Americans serving in the Lafayette predecessor organizations (the Air rian had previously published four Escadrille, French Flying Corps, Royal Service and the Army Air Forces), Air separate listings-one for each of Flying Corps, or Royal Navy. Simi- Force Magazine has relied on USAF's the major wars (World War I, World larly, it no longer contains World War official accounting of aerial victory War II, Korea, and Vietnam). The ll victory credits for Americans in the credits, which is the responsibility of four volumes have been corrected, Eagle Squadrons or the Flying Tigers the Air Force Historical Research updated, and combined into one com- (American Volunteer Group). How- Agency at Maxwell AFB, Ala. prehensive volume. ever, victories were awarded to mem- Air Force historians have kept the The Air Force Historical Research bers of the Army Air Service if they official records of aerial victories by Agency is not authorized, nor has it were flying with British or French units USAF pilots and crew members since ever attempted, to verify aerial victo- when they shot down enemy aircraft. 1957. A few foreign pilots are also ries claimed by Americans who flew Some World War I pilots (notably listed. Most aerial victory credits have with the air forces of other nations. Frank Luke) were credited with victo- been earned by fighter pilots who Therefore, this list no longer con- ries for destroying balloons.
    [Show full text]
  • The North Vietnamese Thought They Were Attacking Bomb-Laden F-105S
    The North Vietnamese thought they were attacking bomb-laden F-105s. What they ran into was Robin Olds and the Wolfpack, flying Phantom F-4s. MiG Sweep n Jan. 2, 1967, with aircraft The air war in Southeast Asia, O losses in Southeast Asia on the while unique in many respects, har- rise, the United States Air Force re- kened back to earlier conflicts in sorted to an elaborate combat sting. terms of the relative missions, forces, The mission, called Operation Bolo, and equipment. As in World War II constituted an electronic Trojan and Korea, the mission of US forces Horse concealing the hard-hitting was to obtain air superiority, destroy F-4 Phantoms of USAF’s 8th Tacti- the enemy air forces, and conduct cal Fighter Wing within a radiated long-range bombing operations. The image that simulated bomb-laden mission of the enemy forces was to F-105 Thunderchiefs. defend their most important targets Despite adverse weather and a by choosing to engage the American few surprises, the “MiG Sweep” bombers on a selective basis. did what it was designed to do: trick the increasingly elusive MiG-21s of Thud, Phantom, Thud North Vietnam into engaging F-4s There were other parallels. To rigged for aerial combat. achieve the air superiority mission, Until the latter part of 1966, MiG the American fighters had to have a aircraft had not been as great a threat long-range capability and still be able to USAF strike forces as the Surface- to defeat the enemy fighters over their Col. Robin Olds came up with the strat- to-Air Missiles and anti-aircraft fire.
    [Show full text]
  • East Side Hangar Volume 9, Issue 6 June 2007
    East Side Hangar Volume 9, Issue 6 June 2007 ESRC Flying Field June 04, 2007 9:30 PM SAFETY FIRST I just happened to snap a couple of shots of the EVERY MEMBER IS A DEPUTY ESRC field yesterday while flying back from a fly in SAFETY OFFICER at Springfield, IL. The shots were taken from the b ack seat of a 172 instead of the more preferable photo platform, (an open cockpit ultra-light :^) Club Officers President Scott Calvin Hope you enjoy, Dwight Vice President Craig Watson Treasurer Ron Moidel Secretary Earl Westergom Safety Officer Ryan Von Talge Membership Cliff Wisser Board Members Roger Watson, Cliff Wisser, Dwight Hayden & Tom King Club Instructors Scott Calvin Tom King Ron Moidel Helicopter Training Scott Fitzgerald Ryan Von Talge Aviation Truism (Mostly True) “A smooth landing is mostly luck; two in a row is all luck; three in a row is prevarication.” Anonymous pilot with poor landing skills C ALENDAR OF 2007 E VENTS July ESRC Club Meeting – 3PM at the field 15th Sept 9 Fun Fly and Club Picnic Sept Track Season Begins – Schedule to follow in the near future. Newsletter Page 1 Robin Olds instead encountered swarms of nimble F-4 Phantom II fighters, with Gen. Olds in the cockpit of the lead airplane. July 14, 1922 – June 14, 2007 In the ensuing dogfight, Gen. Olds shot down a MiG-21, and the pilots under his command downed six other A great American has passed Vietnamese aircraft without losing a single U.S. plane. In May 1967, Gen. Olds shot down three more MiGs, including two in one day.
    [Show full text]
  • Air Force Magazine's Guide to Aces and Heroes
    USAFAlmanac ■ Air Force Magazine’s Guide to Aces and Heroes ■ By tradition, anyone with five official victory credits is an ace. In compiling this list of aces who flew with the US Air Force and predecessor organizations (the Air Service, Air Corps, and Army Air Forces), Air Force Magazine relied on USAF’s official ac- counting of aerial victory credits, which is the responsibility of the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Air Force historians have kept the official records of aerial victories by USAF pilots and crew members since 1957. The Office of the Air Force His- torian initially published four separate listings—for World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The four volumes have been cor- rected, updated, and combined into one comprehensive volume. In each war in which its members Striking a pose in front of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker’s airplane are (l–r) 1st Lt. flew and fought, the Air Force estab- Joseph Eastman, Capt. James A. Meissner (eight victories), Rickenbacker (26 lished criteria for awarding aerial vic- victories), 1st Lt. Reed M. Chambers (seven victories), and 1st Lt. Thorne C. tory credits. These criteria varied from Taylor (two victories). war to war, and therefore one cannot make direct comparisons of aces across all wars. Some Famous US Fighter Firsts In many cases during World War I, several aviators worked together to down a single aircraft. The Air Service May 28, 1918 First US–trained AEF ace: Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker awarded one whole credit to each avia- Dec.
    [Show full text]
  • Headhunter Headlines and Recalled His Time in the 80Th with Pride and Pleasure
    80th FIGHTER SQUADRON HEADHUNTERS ASSOCIATION 905 Arapaho Court; Columbus, GA 31904-1242 Phone or Fax: (706) 324-7360 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.80FSHeadhunters.org Vol. XVII, No. 67 "AUDENTES FORTUNA JUVAT" 1 August 2007 Greetings, Fellow HEADHUNTERS! Bonnie & I hope this newsletter finds you all in the best of health & happiness! WOLFPACK LEGEND PASSES INTO HISTORY 14 July 1922 - 14 June 2007 rig Gen Robin Olds was the Wing Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1967 during the height of the Vietnam War. This in- B dividual was a true combat leader—the man who gave our Wing the name “Wolfpack.” He was a triple ace, having a World War II tally from the European Theater of 13 aerials plus 11.5 more during airfield strafing runs. In North Vietnam, he had four more confirmed kills destroying two MiG-17s and two MiG-21s for his total of 17 in the air—28.5 enemy aircraft total destroyed, and was the only USAF pilot to get kills in both WWII & Vietnam. In his 30 years of Air Force service, he flew some 65 different aircraft, in- cluding the Spitfire, Typhoon and Meteor, the P-38, P-51, F-80, F-86, F-101, F-4 and many other aircraft. His combat missions include 107 in two tours during World War II and 152 more in Vietnam, of which 115 were over Col Olds as 8th TFW/CC at Ubon North Vietnam. He earned his second oak leaf cluster to the Silver Star on RTAFB, Thailand 1966-1967 January 2, 1967 during his famous Operation BOLO "MiG Sweep." His third oak leaf cluster to the Silver Star was for “exemplary airmanship, extraordinary heroism and indomitable aggressiveness” in a low-level bombing run against the Thai Ngyen steel mill blast furnaces about 20 miles north of Hanoi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cult of the Lightweight Fighter: Culture and Technology in the U.S. Air Force, 1964-1991
    The Cult of the Lightweight Fighter: Culture and Technology in the U.S. Air Force, 1964-1991 by Michael Wayne Hankins B.A., University of North Texas, 2007 M.S., University North Texas, 2013 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of History College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2018 Abstract In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, military aviation technology grew expensive and politically divisive, and this is not without precedent. In the 1960s and 1970s, the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon represented a controversial shift both in the cost of development and in tactical doctrine for the United States Air Force (USAF), yet the motivating factors that influenced their design are not fully understood. Most of the literature either has focused on a teleological exploration of technical evolution or has held to a “genius inventor” paradigm, lionizing individual engineers and planners. Other works have focused on these aircraft as factors that changed the Air Force's tactical approach to warfighting or have simply evaluated their combat performance. Although these approaches are valuable, they do not account for the effect that institutional culture and historical memory had on the F-15 and F-16 programs. This dissertation argues that the culture of the fighter pilot community was based on a constructed memory of World War I fighter combat, idealizing a heroic, romanticized image of “Knights of the Air.” This fighter pilot community attempted to influence the F-15 and F-16 programs to conform to their vision of an idealized past.
    [Show full text]
  • “Older Men Declare War but It Is Youththat Must Fight Anci Die. Robin
    “Older men declare war But it is youth that must ‘ ‘ fig ht a n ci d ie . Herbert Hoover-1944 Robin Olds By Duncan Craighead could have done it at the time, we wouldn’t be in “The problem with the Vietnamese situation the mess we’re in today — the mess few people was not the fact that we were there, it was how seem to realize we’re in. We lost worldwide we went about it. That we were there was proper. respect for the way we conducted ourselves in If we had done what we should have done, the Southeast Asia, and for our desertion of the South way we should have done it, and the way we 21 piece of the we wanted was a and didn’t care. All That was the big Cambodianls, the Laotians, the war ended. Vietnamese, the you lose action before Pacific. When us in those days. everyone else in the South stepped on, thing with world power1 you get respect as a and you are abused. held in contemPt’ world you are useful than love in Respect is a lot more politics.” resident been a Steamboat Robin Olds has years in the previously he spent thirty since 973. started as a West States Air Force. He brigadier United and retired as a Point cadet in1940’ deal with The following pages General in 1973. world affairs from military involvement in his starts from the beginning. 973. The story who 1943 to Air Corps officer father was an Army in “My and was commissioned learned to fly in W16 Hawaii after met my mother in World War I.
    [Show full text]