How many MIGs were shot down in Bolo?
seven
The ruse drew an attack by Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 interceptors, whose pilots expected to find heavily loaded fighter-bombers. Instead, they were met by the far more agile F-4s, which shot down seven of the MiGs….Operation Bolo.
| Date | January 2, 1967 |
|---|---|
| Result | American victory |
How many kills did Robin Olds have?
Two weeks later, on May 20, he destroyed two MiG-17s in what one of his pilots described as a “vengeful chase” after they shot down his wingman during a large dogfight, bringing his total to 16 confirmed kills (12 in World War II and four in Vietnam) and making him a triple ace.
What happened to Robin Olds?
Robin Olds, a World War II fighter ace who became an aviation legend by commanding the Air Force wing that shot down seven MIGs over North Vietnam in the biggest air battle of the Vietnam War, died last Thursday at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colo. (Five kills are needed to become an ace.)
How many aircraft did Robin Olds shoot down?
13 aircraft
Olds was eventually credited with 107 combat missions and 24.5 victories, 13 aircraft shot down and 11.5 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
How many MiG 21s did Vietnam have?
The North Vietnamese fighter fleet stood at 40, of which only 12 were MiG-21s. However, the losses were soon replenished by the Soviets and the Chinese. When the air war resumed in 1972 after the bombing halt, the VPAF MiG total was up to 206, an all-time high.
Who was the real Maverick in Top Gun?
The Tom Cruise character from Top Gun may be better recognised among the general public, but real flyboys will tell you there’s only one fighter ace truly worthy of the ‘Maverick’ moniker: the late, great Robin Olds — a man whose rebellious nature was as plain as the regulation-flouting ‘stache on his face.
Who was Robin’s wife?
Abigail Morgan Sellers Barnettm. 1978–1993
Ella Rainesm. 1947–1975
Robin Olds/Wife
Where is Robin buried?
United States Air Force Academy Cemetery
Robin Olds/Place of burial
How many missions did Robin Olds fly over North Vietnam?
105
He led his wing as he had promised, from the front, with flair and aggressiveness. Olds ultimately flew 152 missions in Southeast Asia, 105 of them over North Vietnam.
What was Robin Olds role in Operation Bolo?
So Olds decided to fly Phantom F-4s using the same routes, altitude, and callsigns as the F-105s, ambushing the MiG-21s that would be guided towards them, expecting to find Thunderchiefs, and when they realized the truth, it would be too late for them. The D-Day of “Bolo” was January 2 1967.
Who was the mastermind of Operation Bolo?
Colonel Robin Olds, CO of the 8th TFW, mastermind behind Operation “Bolo” He was also an outstanding fighter pilot: on the first day of the operation (January 2 1967) he personally shot down one MiG-21 with two AIM-9s while flying an F-4C Phantom. During Vietnam he was credited with 4 kills, only one kill short of becoming a “Double Ace.”…
What was the purpose of Operation Bolo in Vietnam?
Led by Col. Robin Olds, OPERATION BOLO used a brilliant deception tactic that destroyed half of the North Vietnamese MiG-21 fighter force, with no USAF losses. In late 1966, the USAF was not permitted to bomb North Vietnamese airfields and could only destroy enemy fighters in the air.
When did Robin Olds get his F-4C?
Robin Olds’ F-4C Phantom II FP/63-7680, as it appeared during Operation Bolo, January 2, 1967 – note the missing chin pod, which was not yet retrofitted at the time of Operation Bolo. In 1965 the USAF sent its first F-4Cs to Southeast Asia, where they flew air-to-air missions against North Vietnamese fighters as well as attacking ground targets.