Fighter Pilot

The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds

By: Robin Olds, Christina Olds, Ed Rasimus

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A larger-than-life hero with a towering personality, Robin Olds was a graduate of West Point and an inductee in the National College Football Hall of Fame for his All-American performance for Army. 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.

But it was in Vietnam where the man became a legend. He motivated a dejected group of pilots by placing himself under junior officers and challenging them to train him properly. He led the wing with aggressiveness, scoring another four confirmed kills and becoming a rare triple ace. With his marriage to Hollywood actress and pin-up girl Ella Raines, his nonregulation mustache and penchant for drink, Olds was a unique individual whose story is one of the most eagerly anticipated military books of the year.

Christina Olds, the daughter of Robin Olds, holds a B.A. in English and creative writing from Vassar, is a member of the Air Force Association, and is the first honorary lifetime member of the Red River Valley Association.

Ed Rasimus is a retired USAF fighter pilot who holds a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in both political science and international relations. He has previously written two books on the Vietnam air war, When Thunder Rolled and Palace Cobra.

©2010 Robin Olds with Christina Olds and Ed Rasimus (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Massively welcomed by his legion of fans." (Walter J. Boyne, author and former director of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.)

Outstanding Memoirs

My father was a WWII Fighter Pilot begrudgingly tasked as a P39 instructor. He flew P-51's out of Germany in June of 1945, then with the Ohio ANG until he began a 31 year career with TWA! He was 2 months older than Robin Olds.

While their lives & storie are different. The time they lived & flew in was the same. Listening to this memoir reminds me of listening to my fathers flying tales.

God Bless these men of The Greatest Generation!

A fabulous book about fighter pilot who shapes the USAF

Well written and well read. As I dove into this audio book I soon could feel Robin’s life becoming visible in my mind’s eye. As each hour passes by in this book you will see how Robin defines the role of a fighter pilot, a leader and a father. He succeeds because of his passion. Keep reading, keep listening; the story in this book will expand and reward you with a real journey along side a fighter pilot.

thrilling, funny, and beautifully read.

A proud and patriotic memoir, full of insight into how a fighter pilots life is lived.

He was one of the greats!

As a 16 yr old student pilot who plays DCS and wants to be an airforce fighter pilot, I loved this book!

Great Book

Great book and reader. It put me like I was there with Gen. Olds. Thank you

This is a great look about military aviation

This was by far the best book that I have listened to in years.

I highly recommend it.

Reads like a novel, never a boring moment!

This book is excellent! I listen to 5 to 7 books on tape a month. This is one you do not want to miss. Often like a suspense novel, it puts the listener on the edge of their seats. Knowing that it is a true story makes it even more incredible. Thank goodness the man kept journals during WWII and Vietnam, so that we get the correct facts. What a phenomenal, phenomenal individual. The many famous aviators and celebrities that were in Gen. Olds life are mind boggling. I am near the end of the book and absolutely do NOT want it to end. No wonder the young military personnel of today hold Gen. Olds in such high esteem. Talk about a 'get 'er done' kind of guy. I'd heard that the men in his command would follow him anywhere. This book is a treasure, just like the man. I'll definitely listen to this book again! I want to get a hard copy too, to see the pictures. Often memoirs of great men disappoint, Memoirs of Ace Robin Olds exceeds one's expectations.

Robin was Top Gun before there was such a thing.

I loved how England during WWII was described by Robin. I loved the way the English took the Nazi bombing in stride. I love war stories anyway and hearing how a real warrior views war makes this a worthy title to own.

Good.. not great

This is a good book if you like military history. I gave it a four because I do enjoy miltary history.
As a pure biography I would give it a three as average. It had some very exciting and interesting portions but overall I was disappointed because of the other reviews I had read.

Fantastic

What a great life and a great story of a true hero and fighter pilot.