Photo By Capt. Casey Rodriguez | U.S Air Force Col. Tad Clark, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander presents Christina...... read more read more
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Christina Olds, daughter of the late Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, one of the Air Force's most iconic fighter pilots, visited Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 11, 2018, to speak to the 480th Fighter Squadron pilots and their families about her father's accomplishments during his more than 30 years in the Air Force.
Olds recounted stories of her father and her grandfather, Robert Olds, and their adventures during the conception of the United States Air Force, World War II and the Vietnam War. She also spoke about her father’s rise in the officer ranks and the type of commander he was.
“With any new base we would move to, I remember my father - the first thing he would do is stalk out the exchange, the hospital, anywhere the people were just so he could talk to the base populous,” said Olds. “I remember my father telling us how on one instance he took beer out to the Airmen working the flightline at 3 a.m. It was important to him to establish a connection to the Airmen. He had the most open door policy I’ve ever heard of; he wanted anyone under his command to know that they had a direct channel to him; that he was their support system.”
Olds shared rare family photos from throughout her father’s life. She spent time not only talking about her father’s career, but her childhood and the relationship she and her sister had with their father. Olds recalled what it was like growing up with such a prominent military figure as a father as well as being a military child.
“I enjoyed every precious moment of being a military child. I never had a problem with moving from place to place to place; I was always an adventurous child, I guess I got that from my father,” said Olds. “I think for any military child, it’s a very valuable experience to learn how to adapt to new places and new people. Being a military child taught me about consistency and how to conduct myself as a productive member of society.”
Brig. Gen. Olds is rated a triple ace, having shot down a total of 17 enemy aircraft during WWII and the Vietnam War. During his time in Vietnam, he flew well over 100 missions, and held the positions of squadron, base, group and wing commander as well as staff assignments in a numbered Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as commandant of the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“For Christina Olds to be here talking about her father is a humbling experience. To put it in perspective, we think about the different military branches,” said Lt. Col. Michael Richard, 480th Fighter Squadron commander. “The Army, Navy and other services have established legendary figures and role models dating back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. For the Air Force, being the younger service, we’re still trying to identify those legendary figures. By far Robin Olds is one of the most prominent legendary figures in our Air Force history.”
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2018 02:27 |
| Story ID: | 262523 |
| Location: | SPANGDAHLEM , RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 614 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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