Olds downed a MiG-21, and his 8th TFW F-4 aircrews downed six additional aircraft, or over half of the VPAF operational force, without sustaining any USAF losses
As the U.S. Air Force (USAF) says goodbye to its final QF-4s, we commemorate the retirement of the legendary F-4 during Operation Bolo, the famous deception-based mission during the Vietnam War in which Phantoms replicate the normal flight paths of bombers in an effort to lure fighter aircraft of the Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) into combat.
The Phantom II was initially created for U.S. Navy fleet defense and made its first flight in May 1958. The F-4C, the first variant for the U.S. Air Force, flew for the first time in May 1963, and production deliveries started six months later. After more than 5,000 Phantom IIs had been produced, more than 2,600 were made for the USAF, roughly 1,200 for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and the remaining aircraft were sold to friendly foreign nations.
The USAF deployed its first F-4Cs to Southeast Asia in 1965, where they carried out air-to-air missions against North Vietnamese fighters and made ground-based attacks.
Col. Robin Olds, a World War II ace, was the first USAF pilot to win four combat victories in Southeast Asia while flying F-4s. He achieved considerable renown and admiration as the forceful commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) during the Southeast Asia War as a result of his audacity, bravery, and leadership.
Because his father served as a World War I pursuit pilot, a personal assistant to Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, and the commander of the first B-17 squadron, Robin Olds grew up surrounded by military aviators and airplanes. At West Point, where he studied, Robin Olds’ innate boldness helped him succeed on the football field; in 1942, he was chosen as an All-American tackle. Olds completed his education in 1943, and then underwent aviation training before flying the P-38 in Europe.
Olds distinguished himself as a daring pilot and a born leader. He became the first ace of the 479th Fighter Group in a matter of months after downing five hostile fighters. He was assigned leadership of the 434th Fighter Squadron at the incredibly young age of 22, after being promoted to major. After the unit switched to P-51s, Olds continued to have success; he finished the war with 12 victories.
Olds participated in the first P-80 jet demonstration team after World War II, then held leadership positions in some operational units before working as a staff member. Olds was resolved to enter combat when the Southeast Asia War erupted after being unable to obtain a combat station during the Korean War.
Olds assumed control of the 8th TFW at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in the fall of 1966. Because of Olds’ charisma and bravery, his followers admired him, and the “Wolfpack” became the USAF’s most effective MiG-killing wing in Southeast Asia under his command. The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, which facilitated communication between USAF wings in Southeast Asia and developed into an enduring fraternal group, was also founded in large part because of Olds.
Olds took the initiative and flew on the most dangerous missions, sharing the risks with his aircrews. For his bravery in battle, he was awarded numerous awards, including the Air Force Cross for a mission in August 1967 during which he led a strike force against North Vietnam’s fiercely guarded Paul Doumer Bridge.
Olds’ greatest accomplishment was organizing and directing Operation Bolo, which involved tricking North Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots into engaging in an unfair air fight.
The USAF was only allowed to shoot down enemy fighters in the air and was not allowed to target North Vietnamese airfields in late 1966. Enemy MiGs concentrated on bomb-laden F-105s and only engaged in combat when they had a definite advantage, which complicated the situation. Col. Robin Olds and Capt. John “J.B.” Stone, the tactics officer for the 8th TFW, came up with a brilliant scheme to entice and trap North Vietnamese MiG-21s by imitating an F-105 bombing formation.
On January 2, 1967, F-4s from the 8th TFW made their way into North Vietnam from the west using the same altitude, formation, and path as an F-105 bombing raid. Additionally, they had electronic jamming pods for F-105s that they carried and employed. The MiGs approached to intercept what they believed to be an F-105 strike after the North Vietnamese fell for the bait. In order to stop the MiGs from fleeing to China and orbiting their bases, which prevented the MiGs from landing, 366th TFW F-4s arrived in North Vietnam from the east at the same time.
Despite a few issues brought on by the overcast weather, Operation Bolo was a huge success. Olds downed a MiG-21 during the 12-minute encounter, and his 8th TFW F-4 aircrews downed six additional aircraft, or over half of the VPAF operational force, with no USAF losses.
Four days later, two more MiG-21s were brought down by a different trick, this one imitating an F-4 reconnaissance aircraft. For several months, these severe losses significantly decreased MiG activity.
In December 1967, Olds returned from Southeast Asia. He was given the rank of brigadier general in 1968, took over as the cadet commandant of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and left active duty in 1973.
Source: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force; Photo by U.S. Air Force
