America Obliterates Half North Vietnam's MiG-21 Fleet In 13 Minutes - Operation Bolo

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  • Опубліковано 11 бер 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 6 тис.

  • @the_fat_electrician
    @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +470

    Support my channel by getting Fishing Clash on your iOS/Android device for free fishingclash.link/TheFatElectrician ! Use my gift code FATFISH to get a $20 reward, and share your biggest catch in the pinned comment!

    • @SebastianRamirez-lx4hz
      @SebastianRamirez-lx4hz 3 місяці тому +9

      You should talk about operation Eland even I can’t believe that actually happened

    • @MTF-EPSILON-11-5-NULL
      @MTF-EPSILON-11-5-NULL 3 місяці тому +5

      Have you done operation paperclip

    • @user-jc7bg8hh1w
      @user-jc7bg8hh1w 3 місяці тому +2

      Always been a fan of the military an history especially military history but then your channel got me craving more

    • @BrooklynRedneck
      @BrooklynRedneck 3 місяці тому +3

      just tried typing in the promo code and it’s not working

    • @Jermydewasbeer
      @Jermydewasbeer 3 місяці тому +1

      could you do a video about desmond doss the medic who didn't'use a gun?

  • @brigidtheirish
    @brigidtheirish 3 місяці тому +9939

    The more I learn about the Vietnam War, the more I'm convinced that several people in our government wanted us to *lose.*

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +2758

      More than several

    • @milkyway-in7ff
      @milkyway-in7ff 3 місяці тому +233

      I was just about to make this same post!!

    • @milkyway-in7ff
      @milkyway-in7ff 3 місяці тому

      There should have been a law saying that until you carry out said operations with said rules of engagement you shouldn't be able to make such stupid decisions against our country.. if there was a McCarthy type trial it should be against those who voted for those bs rules/laws.. no wonder stupid people are advocating for communism 😂😂

    • @cwclips2
      @cwclips2 3 місяці тому +186

      Fr they want the usaf to do it on hard mode

    • @jorenvanderark3567
      @jorenvanderark3567 3 місяці тому +146

      Ah, the good old-fashioned stab in the back myth... and I believed that went out of style after the funny mustache man used it.

  • @HAG992
    @HAG992 3 місяці тому +6057

    This is literally what Rambo meant when said "somebody wouldn't let us win".

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +958

      Yup

    • @robotswithryan8348
      @robotswithryan8348 3 місяці тому +226

      Gaahhh it's so frustrating!!! Did the people making these decisions not have enough context to make reasonable rules of engagement? For example I don't know anything about open heart surgery so how could I make reasonable rules about how it's performed without at least having an experienced advisor?

    • @HAG992
      @HAG992 3 місяці тому +158

      @@robotswithryan8348 I think maybe they were trying to avoid WW3 only 20 years after WW2. Frankly, if I was in front of any of those politicians during that time, I'd be calling no balls.

    • @brandodooferman9378
      @brandodooferman9378 3 місяці тому +96

      ​@@robotswithryan8348the controversy of the war itself and the fact it's on of the first televised wars made it very important to control public perception of the war back home

    • @dashsocur
      @dashsocur 3 місяці тому

      @@robotswithryan8348Some of it was naivety, some of it was intentional. A lot of the politicians/State Department officials didn't "want" the US to be there in the first place so they went out of their way to sabotage things. The State Department is always terrified of anything that might result in an angry note from another country and politicians are scared of anything that might negatively effect their re-election chances.

  • @lohengrin4009
    @lohengrin4009 2 місяці тому +730

    One of my favorite pictures is Robin Olds climbing out of the cockpit of an F-4 and someone has just handed him a martini. Dude was a legend.

    • @BigTrain175
      @BigTrain175 2 місяці тому +23

      He was even married to the Hollywood film star Ella Raines.

    • @toadman506
      @toadman506 2 місяці тому

      @@BigTrain175 Which he regretted, She went behind his back to Politicians she knew through Hollywood to keep him from getting sent to Korea for a Combat Command, when he finally found out that she's gone behind his back, their already soured marriage was pretty much done. He stayed married mostly for the sake of Chrissy and Susan, and finally divorced when the Girls were old enough to understand. He was up for BG as the Commander of an F-101 Wing at Bentwaters in the UK, he flew some really over-the top aerobatics routines, which stymied his Star, Violating regs JUST enough to kill the promotion but not get him a Court. And got himself into the running for the 8th Wing. Instead of 12 months IIRC he was able to fudge things and stay for an extra 4-5 months before being dragged kicking and screaming from Thailand, and getting his star from LBJ...who Olds PROMPTLY pissed off by telling him what he REALLY thought about the way LBJ and McNamara were prosecuting the war. He was also able to use his Assignment to the IG office at USAF Pentagon to get a few more trips to Thailand, and another dozen or two combat missions in. They Broke the mold with him.

    • @dwrdwlsn5
      @dwrdwlsn5 2 місяці тому +19

      A press guy got in Robin Olds' face at the party after the landing and asked him what happened, because for once, no one had spilled it to the world. Olds' Response? "We tangled, they lost.'

    • @jenyanc
      @jenyanc 2 місяці тому +7

      My father flew an F4 in Vietnam. Those guys were brutal.

    • @Whitehaar
      @Whitehaar Місяць тому +2

      Why can I not find this photo?

  • @chrisb7198
    @chrisb7198 2 місяці тому +257

    The last statement at the end by Olds is badass personified. "The migs came up, they were aggressive. We tangled. They lost". Deadly serious the whole time saying it.

  • @mr_mufflebunss
    @mr_mufflebunss 3 місяці тому +1568

    Hearing politicians telling the military to not bomb anti air and making them take a specific path and only that path genuinely angered me.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +368

      Same

    • @JohnDoe-wt9ek
      @JohnDoe-wt9ek 3 місяці тому

      Its not just the fact that they will ROE the military into a suicidal corner of death or cowardice in the face of the enemy, unable to actually fight back.
      Its the absolute level of cognitive arrogance and gall to question the men applying their ROE's, and wondering why the plan isn't garnering any results when it hinged on not having any of those ROE's in the first place... Or Politicians being Politicians.
      Its not even stupidity anymore. I believe that today's politicians took every possible page from the politicians of the 60's and 70's, and perfected it to ensure probably deniability and a higher pay out for a new endless war.
      The Benghazi incident and the conspiring events afterwards by the State Department, DoD, and Administration to cover up the fact that they practically left Americans to die, and then had to figure out a new story because they miraculously survived despite all odds, and tried to cover up the fact that Christopher Stevens was murdered by people whom we should not have helped in the first place... Especially considering that Libya was one of three "Arab Spring" experiment nations that the Administration was trying to prop up via Proxy Warfare, especially when all three were beginning to have close ties, or solid ties to, foreign nations and didn't want "American Democracy".

    • @Dallows65
      @Dallows65 3 місяці тому +24

      Oh boy, have you been missing out!

    • @Behappyyou43
      @Behappyyou43 3 місяці тому +29

      Wonder why Ukraine isn't doing better? Look back at other proxie wars...

    • @abcdefbcdefg8352
      @abcdefbcdefg8352 3 місяці тому +61

      this is what they did with any diplomatic convoys. had to be in extremely obvious vehicles that needed to be kept clean in the desert, had to take specific routes, and had were not allowed to engage until they could verify the exact person firing on them. they made them convoy vips on premapped predictable paths THROUGH cities, never around. then they pinned all the blame on blackwater, and ended up acquiring all of their stuff for a steal after they seized and auctioned it off for nothing to another friendly contractor who gobbled up the rest of the US PMCs, forming one private military group that wins every US contractor bid, because they are all thats available.

  • @keeftaylor834
    @keeftaylor834 3 місяці тому +3015

    "You know what technology doesn't fix? Politicians being fucking stupid."
    I replayed that bit no less than 10 times and laughed my ass off each occasion.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +322

      Tyty

    • @JoshRiolu
      @JoshRiolu 3 місяці тому +127

      ​can we get that on a shirt?

    • @DJ_Bonebraker
      @DJ_Bonebraker 3 місяці тому +58

      Truer words were never spoken, and I second the motion for putting this on a shirt.

    • @superchug2469
      @superchug2469 3 місяці тому +28

      ​@@JoshRiolu I second that

    • @cryamistellimek9184
      @cryamistellimek9184 3 місяці тому +44

      Well the French did have one piece of technology for politicians.

  • @TroySchoonover
    @TroySchoonover 2 місяці тому +165

    There is a new memorial for Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. here in Pensacola, his hometown. His statue and an F4 Phantom are in a plaza at the foot of the newly named Chappie James Bridge spanning Pensacola Bay. He grew up watching new Naval Aviators being trained over Pensacola Bay, and it inspired him to pursue aviation.

    • @MattH-wg7ou
      @MattH-wg7ou Місяць тому +5

      Some of the GPS or RNAV waypoints for an approach into PCola used to be named, in order, "CHAPE, EATNN, TUNNA," and some 5 letter GPS fix name for "Sandwich" that I cant remember. The Missed Approach Point was "MAYYO". Because apparently Chappie loved Tuna Sammies with Mayo. I havent been able to find them on Foreflight recently but I remember that when I was in Flight School there in 2017 era.
      What a legend. "Blackman and Robin!"

    • @mikeyj9607
      @mikeyj9607 24 дні тому +1

      In 76/77 I was stationed at an ADC radar site in Iceland, one day they got 20 of us (finding 20 with complete sets of duty blues and saucer caps was not easy), and they hauled us to Keflavik NAS to one of the F-4 hangers we were there with a bunch of others to listen to a speech from General James who was our commander in chief as we were all in the Air Defence Command. so here it was about 100 of us in formation,...and at attention because of the major in charge of the formation waiting and more waiting. I noticed from an upper window Chappie, hatless looked out at us,30 seconds later he walked out put his hat on leaned in, and said something to a major who called us to attention a long time ago, I gather it was not a nice how ya doing as that major turned beet red he then ordered us at ease. Well, chappie got up on the stage looked at us said break formation, and came close to the stage, which we did and he gave his speech. The funny thing was the speakers they set up for us to hear were now behind us and pointing away, we still did not have any trouble hearing him. I do not know if the stories they told about him were true but about 100airmenn became his fans that day, I am sure one asshole major did not.

  • @peteywheatstraw7670
    @peteywheatstraw7670 2 місяці тому +42

    This story only scratches the surface of just how badass Robin Olds was.
    As he neared his 100th sortie, (at that point they sent you home) Olds continued to erase the flight numbers on the blackboard so he could keep going up.

  • @AbbysalWarrior
    @AbbysalWarrior 3 місяці тому +1914

    "...they can probably fuck up boiling water."
    A man after my own heart and mind when it comes to politicians, cackled like a goblin after hearing that!

    • @lolmao500
      @lolmao500 3 місяці тому

      Funny how he always says politicians but it was in fact LBJ the traitor ordering this... and he never mentionned his name once...

    • @GhostWatcher2024
      @GhostWatcher2024 3 місяці тому +26

      Boiling an enemy is a war crime. Therefore, unless you can prove that you are boiling water for IT's own good, you can be found guilty in International Court.

    • @Practitioner_of_Diogenes
      @Practitioner_of_Diogenes 3 місяці тому +10

      Except they're doing that when it comes to wanting to get rid of gas stoves.

    • @bluekestral8316
      @bluekestral8316 3 місяці тому

      My dad always says "you could fuck up a wet dream"

    • @mrdonetx
      @mrdonetx 3 місяці тому +20

      Y'all giving them too much credit. To many assumptions in that they know how to begin boiling water in the first place.

  • @jwdundon
    @jwdundon 3 місяці тому +2387

    Still waiting for the Destroyer that faught like a battleship. USS JOHNSON, and Uss Roberts.

    • @HortonSalm
      @HortonSalm 3 місяці тому +159

      It's more than just them. Johnston led the charge, but she had two wingmen with Roberts close behind them. That entire battle is a master class on late war American FAFO dispensary.

    • @ahoward2kable
      @ahoward2kable 3 місяці тому +23

      He did a while back
      Double checked and he did not do it. I could have sworn he did

    • @Matterian
      @Matterian 3 місяці тому +1

      Earnest E. Evens!!! M.O.H LEGENED!!!!

    • @OlShaky
      @OlShaky 3 місяці тому +9

      *fought

    • @harbringerf9416
      @harbringerf9416 3 місяці тому +22

      Actually the destroyers the Japanese thought were Baltimore cruisers and kept missing because overshoot.

  • @preacherF-15
    @preacherF-15 2 місяці тому +52

    Im a retired F-15C pilot, I was a little too young for Vietnam, but my father was a fighter pilot in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, as was my uncle, although we lost him in the skies over Korea.
    Two of my older brothers flew in Vietnam, one an F-4 pilot in the US Air Force, the other flew A-6's in the Navy.
    Another brother was a LRRP Ranger and helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war.
    Dad knew Robin, although he didnt fly in this battle. He was leading an F-4 squadron of his own at the time.
    You did an excellent job with this video, its rare that people get the facts right. Thank you for your attention to detail and accuracy.

    • @Watson4346
      @Watson4346 28 днів тому

      Did you ever fly 8546? I was a crew chief on her from 2002-2005 at Eglin.

  • @garthgourdon643
    @garthgourdon643 2 місяці тому +10

    Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. deserves his own video; he was LITERALLY Black Air-Force Energy personified.

    • @Ralphoneforthegipper
      @Ralphoneforthegipper 2 години тому

      He does have his own video, movie in fact. Louis Gossett Jr. played the character of "Chappie" in Iron Eagle, a damn fun movie to watch.

  • @ralphboyer2538
    @ralphboyer2538 3 місяці тому +2098

    I'm a Vietnam vet who just turned 74 today. What a great birthday present to be able to sit and watch this story. We (Vietnam vets) often hear about how we "lost the war." My answer is that the FUBAR politicians in Washington lost the war; we were just innocent bystanders. The F-4 is still my favorite airplane, and the Huey is my favorite helicopter. Btw... Your channel is the best channel on UA-cam. It always makes my day when I see that you posted a new video. I've never been disappointed. Keep up the good work brother. A quick story..... about 10 years ago i had the honor of meeting one of the Tuskegee airmen. One of the nicest men I've ever met. When I met him, he walked over and put his arms around me gave me a big hug. He then whispered in my ear, "You and I are brothers!" I hardly ever cry, but I got tears in my eyes when he said that.

    • @WhiteIkiryo-yt2it
      @WhiteIkiryo-yt2it 3 місяці тому +52

      Happy birthday to you, Sir
      07

    • @ninjabearpress2574
      @ninjabearpress2574 3 місяці тому

      You did not lose the war, you were forced to quit because a lot of loudmouthed hippies badgered our government into pulling you out of a war they micromanaged into failure.

    • @kylesellers3826
      @kylesellers3826 3 місяці тому

      I am 21 and I get into arguments alot with people who say that the military lost the war the f***ing politicians did mor than handicap you guys in the war they forced you all to lose.thank you for your service

    • @lllllllllllIllI
      @lllllllllllIllI 3 місяці тому +36

      Awesome story and happy birthday my good sir and thank you for your service! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

    • @OuPoot999
      @OuPoot999 3 місяці тому +24

      Happy birthday!

  • @brentk1694
    @brentk1694 3 місяці тому +722

    “Black Man and Robin” is the dopest duo name I have ever heard. 💪🏻💪🏿

    • @ArikaYumemiya-BlackDragon1045
      @ArikaYumemiya-BlackDragon1045 3 місяці тому +27

      Bat man and Robin...this took me longer to realized then I care to admit, let just say when I heard him say it. I was like this sounded familiar LOL it wasn't till I read your comment it sunk in -_- NOW I understand why this is the most dopest duo name I heard LMAO.

    • @80Jasonmw
      @80Jasonmw 3 місяці тому +1

      i want to know how many takes that took

    • @makukawakami
      @makukawakami 3 місяці тому +18

      It's not politically correct (by today's standard) but you gotta admit it's smart and hilarious

    • @5n4k3d0rk
      @5n4k3d0rk 3 місяці тому +6

      I laughed so hard I had to pause the video to catch my breath when I heard that

    • @troybaxter
      @troybaxter 3 місяці тому +28

      ​@@makukawakami and somehow, someway, people will get offended on Chappie's behalf, even though I can guarantee you he found it endearing to be respected to the extent that he was.

  • @campersr2298
    @campersr2298 Місяць тому +16

    Ah yes 2 ace pilots grounded half of the country's airforce in 13 minutes
    where have i heard that befo-
    *DISTANT FLAMENCO GUITAR PLAYING*

  • @crabman2010
    @crabman2010 2 місяці тому +8

    "You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather"
    I lost it there

  • @isamu237
    @isamu237 3 місяці тому +728

    My physics/calculus teacher in high school flew the F4 and did two tours in Vietnam. He described the Phantom as "what happens when engineers set out to prove if you give a brick enough thrust, you can make it fly." Great physics lesson.

    • @CreeperOnYourHouse
      @CreeperOnYourHouse 2 місяці тому

      I recommend you look up in google images "F-4 glide ratio"

    • @themanformerlyknownascomme777
      @themanformerlyknownascomme777 2 місяці тому +19

      ironically, I'm pretty sure that's also the Soviet Pilot's general opinion on the Mig21

    • @CreeperOnYourHouse
      @CreeperOnYourHouse 2 місяці тому

      If you want a good laugh, I recommend you look up "F-4 glide ratio" in Google images.

    • @jayeisenhardt1337
      @jayeisenhardt1337 2 місяці тому +18

      I think I saw his video on the F-15, it doesn't need wings, it's just a rocket.

    • @kemarisite
      @kemarisite 2 місяці тому +19

      ​@@jayeisenhardt1337the wings provide control surfaces, not lift. 😅

  • @thomasgarrison3949
    @thomasgarrison3949 3 місяці тому +669

    This reminds me of a Quote that I heard in the 1970's, while in the USMC. "We the willing, led by the unknowing. Are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now capable doing anything, with nothing."

    • @tims8589
      @tims8589 3 місяці тому +21

      Thats an amazing quote.

    • @jdtheone
      @jdtheone 3 місяці тому +9

      One of the things I learned as a young marine that definitely stuck with me

    • @lpc9929
      @lpc9929 3 місяці тому +13

      I am infertile from eating scented candles

    • @je__.
      @je__. 2 місяці тому +3

      🥺🥺🇺🇸🇺🇸❤

    • @TheMasonK
      @TheMasonK 2 місяці тому +6

      Perfect description of the Marine Corps.

  • @owenkittredge3433
    @owenkittredge3433 2 місяці тому +42

    My father was a crew chief on F4C when he was in country in 1966-67 and when he returned to Edwards AFB he work in the F4E test program. I remember one time during the program he was working longer days. I found out later that during the first test fight and firing the nose cannon the exhaust caused one if the engines to flame out. My father got his start in WWII as crewman on a P47 so he got to work with some interesting planes until his retirement in 1973.

    • @johnb7757
      @johnb7757 Місяць тому

      Owen, our dads overlapped at Edwards on the F4 test prog. Mine was on it 72-76 or so, when he moved to B-1A. His Vietnam tour wasn't fast; he was in EC-47's.
      We were at USAFA when Olds was Commandant of Cadets. You can imagine his effect on the cadet wing. He was there for the June Week F105 flyby that broke Mach and shattered windows in the dining hall and others.

    • @johnb7757
      @johnb7757 Місяць тому

      Here's a good 105/window story: www.usafa68.org/History/ch5.htm

  • @SternLX
    @SternLX Місяць тому +11

    We studied Olds and Operation Bolo as part of our Leadership course when I was in the USAF. Lot of good lessons in there.

  • @mrkid3512
    @mrkid3512 3 місяці тому +125

    All I'm really hearing is, politicians are why we lost the Vietnam war.

    • @user-nd5eq6yb9s
      @user-nd5eq6yb9s Місяць тому +4

      Wasn't really a war it was a occupation

    • @deltavee2
      @deltavee2 Місяць тому

      You didn't lose the war. It was stolen from you by a dumass Texas oilman and an ex-Ford executive that was into eugenics. Together they were almost as smart as that beagle that Johnson picked up by its ears. Key word is "almost."

    • @jacobb12588
      @jacobb12588 Місяць тому

      @@user-nd5eq6yb9sbasically yea

    • @fnkdtnk
      @fnkdtnk Місяць тому

      Yes, many politicians in power when we left had pro communist sentiments and made sure communism won in Vietnam.

    • @user-xq2zn8bu9q
      @user-xq2zn8bu9q Місяць тому

      I'm hearing the same thing.
      American politicians are as thick as English politicians......
      Absolutely useless. 😑

  • @tomeickhorst6787
    @tomeickhorst6787 3 місяці тому +404

    One badass fact about Robin Olds you could have mentioned was. Normal pilots went home after 100 complete missions. But Olds ordered the record keeper to miss count or represent his number of missions to the point where Olds had 130+ successful missions over north Vietnam before the top brass caught on and sent him home.

    • @ragingpotato
      @ragingpotato 3 місяці тому +52

      Even more badass? Olds knew that if he became the first Ace in Vietnam the Air Force would send him home and use him as a publicity asset. He got his first 4 kills fairly quickly, and then every single opportunity after that, whenever he had a kill lined up he would pass it off to his wingman. This man could have easily had 8+ kills if the threat of pulling him from command wasn't so real. He would have beaten Cunningham and Ritchie to the title by FIVE YEARS.

    • @TheScorch191
      @TheScorch191 3 місяці тому +15

      He also got a kill in a glider (technically) because he forgot to switch his fuel tanks to internal when he dropped the extras. That maneuver was also taught to olds by a soldier named Raspberry, it was called the "raspberry roll" for a long time.

    • @ragingpotato
      @ragingpotato 3 місяці тому +6

      @@TheScorch191 YES! He pulled that off in a P-38.

    • @soonerfrac4611
      @soonerfrac4611 3 місяці тому +18

      Olds is an absolutely fascinating character that could have a 2-3hr discussion about. Married to a Hollywood actress, he got multiple kills in Vietnam that he attributed to his squadron mates instead, was commandant of the AF Academy & retired because they wouldn’t let him kick out cheating cadets.

    • @stephenrodgers5672
      @stephenrodgers5672 3 місяці тому +7

      He would frequently have the records show that another pilot flew his mission or scored his victory so that the REMF's would leave him there.

  • @jdveit227
    @jdveit227 2 місяці тому +14

    Robin Olds' memoir "Fighter Pilot" is also an amazing read. I highly recommend it.

  • @katmadison7607
    @katmadison7607 12 днів тому +1

    I just played this for my 81 yr old Mom. My dad was a crew chief on one of the Thuds during Rolling Thunder. She loved this breakdown.. she's now pulling out the photos.
    Thank you for all you do!

  • @Spyro_62
    @Spyro_62 3 місяці тому +297

    Our soldiers over in Vietnam must've been looking at the politicians like "Your tactis confuse and frighten me, sir."

  • @pauls4002
    @pauls4002 3 місяці тому +656

    Mrs. Electrician:
    I know that the research, filming, editing, etc. of these videos cuts into family time. I don’t know how involved you are in the production but regardless I’m sure you are making some sacrifices for these videos to happen. I wanted to thank you for supporting your husband, this is my favorite UA-cam channel.

    • @memecoin1830
      @memecoin1830 3 місяці тому +45

      Facts! Go Mrs. Electrician!

    • @NickVanRegenmorter
      @NickVanRegenmorter 3 місяці тому +26

      Bro he used to be an electrician, that means he’d work for 12 hours a day then go home and drink beer for a few hours. This isn’t a sacrifice 😂

    • @alexbarr6160
      @alexbarr6160 3 місяці тому +9

      Wait he has a husband I thought he had a wife

    • @JoryMcDaniel
      @JoryMcDaniel 3 місяці тому +32

      Everybody knows his husband is Eli Doubletap, and Congressman Herrara is the side peice.

    • @markbowerii7632
      @markbowerii7632 3 місяці тому +10

      @@JoryMcDaniel Careful he's gonna boop you on the nose.

  • @mjbarber39
    @mjbarber39 2 місяці тому +8

    I stumbled on to one of your videos a few months ago and I have to say, by far, this is my favorite channel on any App. Don't change a thing.

  • @OneCosmicGuy
    @OneCosmicGuy 2 місяці тому +5

    Here's a lead on a possible story for you. I was having a conversation with a fellow aviation/military enthusiast and he mentioned one of his favorite stories is something about the black PBY Catalinas from WWII possibly being the world's first stealth bomber. Apparently they did a lot of raiding of Japanese shipping but also..."stuff" that was dangerous, risky, and sometimes unwise. Sounds exactly like your cup of tea!

  • @Butter_Warrior99
    @Butter_Warrior99 3 місяці тому +528

    Definition of Old Man Strength. Never doubt the old warriors.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +97

      Absolutely

    • @nolanbaker2360
      @nolanbaker2360 3 місяці тому +34

      Theres a good reason their old

    • @noahberg101
      @noahberg101 3 місяці тому +22

      "never question an old man, in a occupation where men die young"-i dont remember someone on the internet

    • @mikewazowski7830
      @mikewazowski7830 3 місяці тому +4

      They made it through for one reason or the other 🤷🏼‍♂️

    • @jonathanpaxton7791
      @jonathanpaxton7791 3 місяці тому +5

      If they made it through the shit they are undoubtedly The Shit, not but fucked with!! Old man in a young man's game or a warrior in a garden are all terrifying

  • @user-ct3oq5ez8e
    @user-ct3oq5ez8e 3 місяці тому +315

    It’s been rumored Chappie eventually wound up helping a high school kid rescue his dad who was being held behind enemy lines in the eighties by hijacking 2 F-16’s.

    • @the13inquisitor59
      @the13inquisitor59 3 місяці тому +17

      That's such a batshit story I kind of want details.

    • @user-ct3oq5ez8e
      @user-ct3oq5ez8e 3 місяці тому +84

      @@the13inquisitor59 It’s the plot from the movie Iron Eagle. The character Colonel Charles “Chappie” Sinclair played by Lois Gossett Jr. was inspired by General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. The movie ended on a cover up because the Air Force didn’t want to admit a high school kid and retired colonel jacked two of their birds and went on a rescue mission that wasn’t approved. An impressionable kid with a vivid imagination watches it in the eighties and starts thinking I bet they would cover that shit up. Boom you find out he’s based on a real dude and you got yourself a goddamn urban legend?

    • @scrdngr
      @scrdngr 3 місяці тому +20

      I had that exact thought when I heard his call sign. I watched it as a kid many times.

    • @Mrhalligan39
      @Mrhalligan39 3 місяці тому +21

      I thought “Iron Eagle” was a documentary?

    • @user-ct3oq5ez8e
      @user-ct3oq5ez8e 3 місяці тому +11

      @@Mrhalligan39 I can neither confirm or deny that assessment at this juncture

  • @brandensimmons7076
    @brandensimmons7076 Місяць тому +2

    You're ability to wrap something up in a hilarious one liner is fn great. Love your videos.

  • @BobZombie8806
    @BobZombie8806 2 місяці тому +2

    I never had the sack to serve myself but I love these stories and how accessible you make military history

  • @NoLegGreg
    @NoLegGreg 3 місяці тому +341

    "Blackman and Robin" is the best nickname for a duo that i have ever heard, and the fact that a 4 Star General and war hero was okay with it, means we have to also, no comments

    • @kevimusprime7
      @kevimusprime7 2 місяці тому +17

      It's the greatest thing I've ever heard. The credentials of each of those mofos makes the name that much better. This is coolest black dude possible + coolest white dude possible named, with pun and literal names, after the greatest superhero duo. AND the real duo would beat the fictional one. So badass.

  • @EATSxBABIES
    @EATSxBABIES 3 місяці тому +358

    Politicians: you cant shoot down enemy jets until you can physically identify them as enemy jets
    Pilots: Aim7s are on sale today boys, buy one get 3 free.
    Politicians: how did you ID those jets from 10+ miles away?
    Pilots: Sir, chow hall serves carrots 3x a day and no allied planes were in the sky. Only enemies were positively identified.

    • @jebe4563
      @jebe4563 3 місяці тому +13

      Keep in mind the target identification issue was a known concern when the F-4 design being finalized, circa 1961. A Texas Instruments AAA-4 IRST pod was mounted under the nose to handle the associated issue with the USN F-4B, and of course in the USN development process the F-4 was intended to operate alongside the F-8 Crusader. The original intent effectively being that the F-4s would be able to quickly respond to Soviet Bombers closing on a CVBG, and the F-8s would then engage anything that got past the F-4s.
      In turn the USN correctly identified the main issue was a lack of appropriate training systems resulting in the US Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program, aka Top Gun,
      Following the Korean War the USAF on the other hand had been involved in a number of questionable Fighter Programs, and the ill-conceive AIM-4 Falcon Missile Program. None of which worked for purpose, leading to them ultimately being forced to adopt a USN Plane and Missile, aka the F-4 Phantom II. Mind they dragged their feet on the Navy missiles part leading to a lot of needless deaths, because the AIM-4 Falcon was _that_ bad. In turn a lot of the difficulty with missiles the USAF had, actually revolved around... the AIM-4 Falcons, and the USAF dragging their feet on acknowledging that problem.
      They also happened to have had the M61 Vulcan program finishing up around that time, and the USAF switch over to F-4s with that saw minimal improvements because... The USN was right and the USAF was wrong, again. The USAF being the USAF though waited until 1975 to acknowledge that maybe the Navy had a point and start Operation Red Flag, mind the US ended the Vietnam War on their terms in 1973, and then noped out of the 1975 follow up.
      Along those lines the USAF was slow to follow the USN/USMC practices for the WSO part of the F-4 crew. So instead of having someone specifically trained to operate the RADAR and what-not, they just threw two pilots into the things, which led to... avoidable issues. That said the breakdown of USAF F-4 combat losses was... 83% to AAA, 8% to SAMs, & 9% to MiGs, with them suffering far, far more losses than the USN in all categories.

    • @jacobdill4499
      @jacobdill4499 2 дні тому

      ​@@jebe4563 The military has issues with acknowledging stuff that doesn't work sometimes. The Navy & the Mark 14 torpedo in ww2 are another example.

  • @Andromedust
    @Andromedust 2 місяці тому +3

    This is the best video I've seen in years. Love your fast talking style, makes it a concentrated fountain of info. Had to hit pause from time to time to let what you said sink in. Great job!

  • @gregorynye5261
    @gregorynye5261 2 місяці тому +2

    I love your knowledge of military history, I myself am a military aviation historian by acquiring my own education on it, your videos are amazing and I can’t wait to see more of your videos.

  • @Gearparadummies
    @Gearparadummies 3 місяці тому +527

    Robin Olds is the poster boy of the USAF and arguably the best pilot of the entire war.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +144

      Maybe ever triple ace is insane

    • @treydixon5399
      @treydixon5399 3 місяці тому +60

      One of his subordinates put it perfectly, "In another age, Robin would have been a warrior king."

    • @billynomates920
      @billynomates920 3 місяці тому +12

      @@the_fat_electrician a fantastic pick but still a tough call. swede vedjesa, those guys in the up-armed b17 that shot down something like 9 zeros in a circling dogfight. it's like they say: if you don't know who the best fighter pilot in the world is, it ain't you!

    • @erika_itsumi5141
      @erika_itsumi5141 3 місяці тому +5

      ​@@billynomates920hmhmhm your referring to old666.

    • @RaderizDorret
      @RaderizDorret 3 місяці тому +9

      @@the_fat_electrician Look up Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, top American ace over Europe with 28 kills (all in the P-47 Thunderbolt) and then fought in Korea for another 6.5 kills in the F-86 Sabre for a total of 34.5 kills, nearly making him a septuple ace.

  • @GodDragonLich
    @GodDragonLich 3 місяці тому +239

    My father is a Vietnam veteran and he always said the Vietnam War was not a “real war” and that it was more about politics than it was about actually wanting to win the war.

    • @theotherohlourdespadua1131
      @theotherohlourdespadua1131 2 місяці тому

      Ever heard of "cabinet wars" there is a period of human history where wars are "fought" by shuffling troops around, capturing territory without loss of life while the ambassadors are busy hashing out the peace while the troops are shuffling about...

    • @adamcuneo7189
      @adamcuneo7189 2 місяці тому

      The strategy pursued by LBJ was especially crappy, it should've been handled more like Korea where you sweep the area, instead it was just a spotty presence.

  • @rickwoodall7551
    @rickwoodall7551 2 місяці тому +2

    Thanks again, you never cease to come up with the most fascinating stories!! Love your channel, thank you for all your hard work and research

  • @sportsboyjon
    @sportsboyjon Місяць тому +1

    Ive heard a couple people tell this one before, but the energy and detail you show made me watch your take and im so glad i did!

  • @jemman2906
    @jemman2906 3 місяці тому +447

    Oh goodie! Another ‘he didn’t even get a chance to fuck around, he just found out.’ story!

  • @BartimaeusCarbulo
    @BartimaeusCarbulo 3 місяці тому +415

    As a millennial I'm seeing a similar pattern in Afghanistan where politicians make rules that handicap our soldiers and after fighting in that hell hole for 20 years the politicians tear up a peace treaty/deal we made with the Taliban and now we "lost" again because politicians left behind $100s of millions in military equipment and vehicles, American citizens, and the Taliban run the show now.

    • @Reblwitoutacause
      @Reblwitoutacause 3 місяці тому

      America has never lost a war. America's politicians have lost SEVERAL.

    • @BayouBoy2443
      @BayouBoy2443 3 місяці тому

      Only this time, they’re not afraid to show that they want us enslaved or worse

    • @CaptainFrost32
      @CaptainFrost32 3 місяці тому +70

      ...and soldiers leaving the service had to account for equipment they were ordered to abandon in theater.

    • @CrimsonKingOkie
      @CrimsonKingOkie 3 місяці тому +14

      100s of 100s of millions

    • @ismaeljimenez6562
      @ismaeljimenez6562 3 місяці тому +31

      Remember that the moment we let loose, the world cries war crimes

  • @enigma9971
    @enigma9971 Місяць тому +1

    I've been bingeing the hell outta your channel and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Such great stories and storytelling!

  • @Saiyan4658
    @Saiyan4658 2 місяці тому +2

    Im so glad I found your channel. You have been the best history teacher I have ever seen!!

  • @setra23
    @setra23 2 місяці тому +284

    "Never pick a fight with an old Warrior.
    They're either really good, or really lucky."

    • @jkrolak7978
      @jkrolak7978 2 місяці тому +3

      And it's usually the former.

    • @breaker86
      @breaker86 2 місяці тому +2

      @@jkrolak7978 agree......& ready to go..

    • @daflea66
      @daflea66 2 місяці тому +5

      Sometimes both

    • @ratagris21
      @ratagris21 Місяць тому +2

      Never confuse skill with luck - the Replacement Killers.

    • @ChristopherMoye
      @ChristopherMoye Місяць тому +3

      ..and you don't want to tangle with either.

  • @sheldoniusRex
    @sheldoniusRex 3 місяці тому +147

    Col. Robin Olds is so bad ass his Wikipedia article includes a whole ass chapter on his out of regulations mustache.

  • @RockinNods
    @RockinNods 2 місяці тому +2

    Watching this directly after a Warographics video on why the US lost the Vietnam war almost gave me whiplash

  • @mcchuggernaut9378
    @mcchuggernaut9378 2 місяці тому +1

    Great video! And I love the playful banter between you and your wife, it's funny and lighthearted. You both have a great sense of humor, and that shows a healthy marriage. :)

  • @acetrainer44
    @acetrainer44 3 місяці тому +279

    And another thing to add to Robin Olds being an absolute badass pilot: during an escort mission on August 23, 1944, he and his wingman were about to ambush a group of approximately 50 Messerschmitt Bf 109s and “Just as Olds began firing, both engines of his P-38 quit from fuel exhaustion; in the excitement of the attack he had neglected to switch to his internal fuel tanks. He continued attacking in "dead-stick mode", hitting his target in the fuselage and shooting off part of its engine cowling. After fatally damaging the Bf 109 he dived away and restarted his engines,” making him the only pilot of the war to down an enemy aircraft while in a gliding mode

    • @jonwebber607
      @jonwebber607 3 місяці тому +5

      @the_fat_electrician also this!

    • @VoreAxalon
      @VoreAxalon 3 місяці тому +3

      What an absolute Chad.

    • @709mash
      @709mash 3 місяці тому +15

      The episode of Dogfights about Old's is a must watch. It shows this dog fight, along with at least one other in WW2, and then operation BOLO.

    • @wethepeoplearepidoff1776
      @wethepeoplearepidoff1776 3 місяці тому

      ​@@709mash yeah it's one of the best episodes of the series

    • @daniel_f4050
      @daniel_f4050 2 місяці тому +1

      I’m guessing there might be a few Me 163 pilots who would like a word on that claim. Assuming their own fuel didn’t melt them during a hard landing.

  • @chenlee9835
    @chenlee9835 3 місяці тому +162

    “Maybe I’ll go mow the lawn.”
    “But it’s winter.”
    Promptly loads up Lawnmower Simulator

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +42

      LOL

    • @viciousvictortee1298
      @viciousvictortee1298 3 місяці тому +3

      It reminded me of the best Walmart commercial ever. Guy calls up his buddy About playing Madden at midnight release. Tried to call him out that he's playing...I'll let you imagine his response to the call out. (No spoiler)

    • @SupersuMC
      @SupersuMC 3 місяці тому +1

      You laugh, but I have drought-resistant rye grass that was green well into winter. It took a deep freeze to brown it, and only for a few weeks at most.

  • @gm28jtr
    @gm28jtr 2 місяці тому +2

    Another great video brother, thank you so much. I first learned about Operation Bolo from Bill Whittle and his “The Cold War: What We Saw” podcast. His “America’s Forgotten Heroes” is another great series.
    You and Bill have very different styles of telling a story but are masters of your craft.

  • @JohnSmith-dk7rl
    @JohnSmith-dk7rl 24 дні тому +1

    Olds should’ve known the first few missiles wouldn’t work, he’s been the main character the whole time he had to drop the “Find your own” one-liner before he started wrecking migs

  • @cesaralarcon5228
    @cesaralarcon5228 3 місяці тому +202

    “No Guts, No Glory” Robin Olds, the man was a legendary fighter pilot and a leader of men, I still remember watching the Operation Bolo episode on Dogfights and see him talk about his experience in combat

    • @Wolfdancer4859
      @Wolfdancer4859 3 місяці тому +2

      That was my very first Dogfights episode!

    • @MarkLac
      @MarkLac 3 місяці тому

      Same here! Dogfights was an absolutely epic series.

    • @robgregory5136
      @robgregory5136 3 місяці тому

      Loved that series

  • @mga149
    @mga149 3 місяці тому +153

    [13:00] I've had 2 bosses in my career do this. Came in and the first thing they did was sit with the engineers & techs and do their daily jobs with them. Learn not just any tech he wasn't up to speed on, but also how the business was operating. Then maintained open communication on why they started making the changes they wanted to make.
    The two best bosses I've had in over 20 years in IT.
    The first one was at my first real job and was literally logged into the queue answering Level 1 tech support calls with the rest of us for most of a week.
    Same guy that sunk into me one of the standards of my entire career: "If you don't have time to fix it right the first time, when are you going to find time to fix it again?"
    He really set a high bar for every other boss I've had.

    • @jayeisenhardt1337
      @jayeisenhardt1337 2 місяці тому +11

      "If you don't have time to fix it right the first time, when are you going to find time to fix it again?"
      i like this

    • @mga149
      @mga149 2 місяці тому +6

      @@jayeisenhardt1337 It's been a core value for my over 20 year IT career, and one of the main reason I've been so successful. I quote it often and try to instill it in every newer co-work I've mentored.
      Unfortunately it's usually at odds with most corporate executives that are primarily focused growth and increasing revenue.

    • @1998TDM
      @1998TDM 2 місяці тому +1

      I've been responsible for running some big teams over the years in high pressure situations and the people in those teams have made me look really good. My bosses never clicked that the team ran the show, I just learned on the line with them how the job needed to be conducted.. Stay humble, learn and trust. Great things can happen. And great friendships forged.

    • @ernestcote3398
      @ernestcote3398 2 місяці тому +2

      Yeah, lived it too. Everyone needed their PC or they couldn't do their job so ANYTIME the image install failed, huge stress as to redo or hope. The user ALWAYS went with hope, until it failed, then I was a complete idiot. If my company wanted 99.999 uptime then they should have budgeted spare parts, training and maybe allow OT if I'm going to stay on an image for 6 hours after work.
      When I first started, HP, IBM, Compaq, Epson would ALL send trainers with repair kits with full technical manuals (that I never read every page on) and it was made real that we knew how to handle the new equipment. It deteriorated to no parts, extreme stress in that portions of the business were down because the unit was down and my company gave me the Microsoft link to "Learning Windows 10" and expected me to become an expert in repair when they gave me the user orientation link.
      It sucked.@@mga149

  • @tek512
    @tek512 Місяць тому +2

    Ah yes, rules of engagement. Also known as making the military fight battles while cosplaying Helen Keller.

  • @Drengr19
    @Drengr19 10 днів тому +1

    Its always fascinating when you learn more about stuff from a guy called the Fat Electrician than you ever did in school.

    • @theycallme4799
      @theycallme4799 9 днів тому

      Right? Wouldn't history have actually been FUN?!

  • @graverob1910
    @graverob1910 2 місяці тому +45

    Rambler: “I heard you’ve engaged the enemy, where are you?”
    Olds: “Back off, kill-stealer.”

    • @andreatomasi3755
      @andreatomasi3755 Місяць тому +1

      Bro was having topical war thunder chat before wt was even a thing

  • @josephschultz3301
    @josephschultz3301 3 місяці тому +99

    The bit about completely bypassing the NSA in order to use their fancy silver spy plane is fucking genius

    • @2ndTooth
      @2ndTooth 2 місяці тому +15

      Airforce: how are we going to pull an operation off involving all the branches and every plane we have without telling our spy guys?
      Some grunt: idk don't tell em
      Aiforce:🤔

  • @TioKeats
    @TioKeats 2 дні тому +1

    There is a great documentary called 100 Missions: Surviving Vietnam. After 100 missions pilots got to go home so apparently Olds was erasing how many flights he had been on when he got up around 80-90 because he wanted to stay with his men as long as possible.

    • @OnlyHotDabs420
      @OnlyHotDabs420 День тому

      That's a fake account.Do not message him

  • @ArkReaper89
    @ArkReaper89 2 місяці тому

    There is so much information packed into this epsiode that it should be a reference point. Awesomeness Fat, just brillance.

  • @matthewbrowning7822
    @matthewbrowning7822 3 місяці тому +69

    Your sniper rifle analogy hit home. While I was in Afghanistan in 2014, our hands were tied so tightly by ROE, it became disgusting. My gunner literally couldn't shoot at peopleaiming weaponsat us.
    We finally bought our own stuff off Amazon to build an EOF kit so nothing would have to be reported in a SIR report.
    I knew a lot about what you talked about regarding the politicians, but it still annoyed me.
    Good video, I enjoyed it.

  • @skypentraico4322
    @skypentraico4322 3 місяці тому +287

    Unrelated to the video, this is one of the best ad skits I've seen on UA-cam. That's an achievement in itself. Congrats!

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +46

      Glad you enjoyed it!

    • @PhycoKrusk
      @PhycoKrusk 3 місяці тому +34

      Honestly, Mrs Electrician is the best supporting character.
      Period.

    • @TexasNationalist1836
      @TexasNationalist1836 3 місяці тому +3

      @@PhycoKruskshe also has GYATT

    • @BlitzTheOissilent867
      @BlitzTheOissilent867 3 місяці тому +10

      ​@@TexasNationalist1836 yo, chill. Be respectful to her and her husband, ya know, the guy who makes these videos lol. ( not that you're wrong 😬

    • @PhycoKrusk
      @PhycoKrusk 3 місяці тому +2

      @@TexasNationalist1836 the fuck is "gyatt"?

  • @ericbossard4505
    @ericbossard4505 Місяць тому +1

    Just finished interviewing the son of General Chappie for a documentary, would really love to see you cover his military career.

  • @jakemiller3026
    @jakemiller3026 2 місяці тому +1

    28:10 not only did they take out the enemy fight force but they shafted the NSA at the same time. Gotta love that. 😂

  • @carljansen3118
    @carljansen3118 3 місяці тому +120

    No one's gonna mention that freakin awesome duo nickname?!?!?? Hell no!! 😂😂😂 Blackman and Robin is just ridiculously hilarious 😂😂😂 Merit above all 💪🏻

    • @melsofthestars
      @melsofthestars 3 місяці тому +8

      😂😂😂😂😂 i thought it was hilarious too.

    • @Housesider
      @Housesider 3 місяці тому +14

      I'm black myself and that name is legitimately hilarious, sounds like something my old buddy Dave would've come up with 😂

  • @archierush868
    @archierush868 3 місяці тому +159

    Another story from Vietnam: Roy Benevitez. Survived 6 hours of hell and saved 8/12 men in a squadron, all of which were almost definitely gonna die, without Tango Mike Mike, his call sign i think. Can’t recall the details 100%.

    • @nick_is_steve
      @nick_is_steve 3 місяці тому

      That Mean Mexican

    • @joshsmith8475
      @joshsmith8475 3 місяці тому +28

      And we probably would not even know of his story if he hadn't spat in the face of the doctor who assumed he died from his wounds after getting on the helicopter while the doctor was zipping up his body bag that he had been placed in.

    • @triadwarfare
      @triadwarfare 3 місяці тому +7

      I think Simple History covered this man. Not sure if Yarnhub also covered him.

    • @akarbit3r111
      @akarbit3r111 3 місяці тому +4

      @@triadwarfare Mr Ballen also talked about him

    • @gregorybryan9988
      @gregorybryan9988 3 місяці тому +4

      I read Roy Benevidez's book. A true badass legend.

  • @toothlessdiver
    @toothlessdiver 2 місяці тому +1

    Thank you, awesome lunch time story, got me fired up to go bak to work.

  • @infin8ee
    @infin8ee 2 місяці тому +1

    Well that left me entirely with goosebumps, entirely choked up and completely entertained. You good Sir have a rare talent for telling a story and bringing it to life. Thanks for not allowing the amazing feats of the past die and pass from our collective memory. Waiting eagerly for the next video.

  • @AdamNDJ
    @AdamNDJ 3 місяці тому +111

    Could you imagine if the US military was actually let off the chain and allowed to run at full capability? I remember all the handicaps they placed on us in Iraq and Afghanistan. Made life 100 times harder for us.

    • @oskar6661
      @oskar6661 3 місяці тому

      I mean, look no further than Vietnam. There were a few weeks where - due to politician nonsense - the U.S. was allowed to actually prosecute the war with its full capacity, and North Vietnam more or less was ready to quit.

    • @scotto7924
      @scotto7924 3 місяці тому +3

      We'd have already fought WW3

    • @06capoeirista
      @06capoeirista 3 місяці тому +11

      @scotto7924 ... and won

    • @therealrakuster
      @therealrakuster 3 місяці тому +1

      The Japanese are the only ones to ever feel that wrath.

    • @sommebuddy
      @sommebuddy 3 місяці тому

      Nobody wins that one.@@06capoeirista

  • @Registered_Simp
    @Registered_Simp 3 місяці тому +81

    Robin Olds, while not the highest scoring ace as far as jets kills go, stands proud as the embodiment of the rockstar pilot. He was simply built different. A relic from the past still holding his cutting edge. Honestly, if we're talking about pilots, look no further for people to do vids on than the Aces of the Korean War. Some of those F-86 Sabre pilots were straight up nuts. Pilots like Robby Risner, James Jabara, Joe McConnel, Ralph Parr, and more. Truly a different breed.
    If you're looking for a "1 v Many" situation for the ages, Israel's ace of aces, Giora Epstein is certainly a case. He was initially denied entry into flight school due to a heart murmur. So, he became a paratrooper, and eventually got his wings later. He would go on to earn 17 kills all in Mirage 3's and Neshers. On October 20th, 1973, he was locked in an ambush with his flight of 4 during the Yom Kippur War in against as many as 20 Egyptian Mig-21's. Not only did he manage to survive it, but also managed to nab a couple kills from the hoard.

    • @aldoraine9487
      @aldoraine9487 3 місяці тому +2

      Some estimates of olds total Vietnam war kills to be around 17 and his daughter confirms a high kill tally upwards of that. He credited other pilots with his kills to stay longer. Ending the war with 4 total victories..

    • @Registered_Simp
      @Registered_Simp 3 місяці тому +2

      @@aldoraine9487 Olds also erased his name from flight rosters to keep his hours down to do the same thing. He refused a promotion to Brig. General for as long as possible to stay in the cockpit. Truly built different

  • @osubuckeye6578
    @osubuckeye6578 2 місяці тому +1

    Dad was 9th Infantry in '68. When he would talk about Vietnam, he told us the war would've been over years sooner had the politicians been given two heaping handfuls of piss off.

  • @user-jq2eo6de8o
    @user-jq2eo6de8o 2 місяці тому

    I absolutely love your channel! Thank you so much!

  • @karlreinke
    @karlreinke 3 місяці тому +48

    Olds was also the only known pilot to get a kill "dead stick". He was so obsessed with getting a German BF109 he dropped his wing tanks and forgot to switch fuel pumps and stalled the engines of his P38 lightning.

    • @sommebuddy
      @sommebuddy 3 місяці тому +3

      So he closed on a 109..gliding?

    • @jdreyes3745
      @jdreyes3745 3 місяці тому +9

      ​@@sommebuddy Flies right behind, drops tank, forgets to switch from external to internal fuel, shoots guns anyway, plane go boom.

    • @cassiecaradoc2070
      @cassiecaradoc2070 3 місяці тому +3

      @@sommebuddy The quote I heard is that he literally claimed to be the only person to shoot down an enemy aircraft in a glider.

  • @Barnie-pi7mk
    @Barnie-pi7mk 3 місяці тому +57

    Having talked with vets who have experienced operation bolo first hand they had mad respect for the tactics of olds and the balls he had to do things his way.

  • @ozzy9504
    @ozzy9504 2 місяці тому

    Your videos are just incredible bro! Thank you!

  • @garymorrison8638
    @garymorrison8638 Місяць тому

    Great story telling, really enjoyed that one!

  • @javaks
    @javaks 3 місяці тому +47

    "Taco Flosser"
    I learned something new today. Thank you kind sir.

  • @matthewmcbride1510
    @matthewmcbride1510 2 місяці тому

    I can’t believe I didn’t know about this channel till recently. Loving the storytelling

  • @Sh1fted_X
    @Sh1fted_X 4 дні тому

    I cannot stop watching your videos, if I would've found you in high school I definitely would have been more into history! Much love Nick!

  • @DavidRichardson153
    @DavidRichardson153 3 місяці тому +103

    It is not quite a fighter pilot story, but I know someone with his own Vietnam story and as a pilot.
    This man was a Huey pilot, but he only flew one combat mission. He still flew Hueys for the war, but his experience with this mission got him barred from ever being sent out to a combat zone. However, this was because of his air boss at the time.
    What happened was that he was part of the troop carriers. First wave of troops in, they came under fire. His Huey ended up getting hit and shot down, but fortunately, he had only just lifted off the ground when it happened, so it was not much of a crash - still wrecked the Huey, but not enough to trap or kill anyone in it. Thanks to that, he and his copilot quickly bailed, sprinted to one of the later Hueys, and caught a ride on it back to their FOB.
    Once they made it back, the air boss saw them hopping out and asked what happened. They told him that they were shot down just as they were about to lift off after dropping off their troops. The air boss had heard the radio calls of enemy contact, so he largely let it slide and sent them to fly another Huey to carry more troops in, which they did.
    They flew in with the next wave and dropped off their next batch of troops. This time, the Huey got shot up before they could even lift off, so the Huey was pretty much grounded. The copilot ended up taking some shrapnel from the Huey - not enough to cripple or kill him, but it turned out to be enough to ground him after they caught another later Huey and made back to the FOB again.
    With a second Huey now shot down, the air boss was getting pissed. He angrily commented that they were "costing the Army too many Hueys," but he still sent the man out in a third, this time with a different copilot, and once again with more troops.
    For the third time, they flew in, dropped off their troops, and started to leave. This time, it looked like they were about to get out without getting hit or shot down. Unfortunately... they still got hit and shot down, but this time, not only were they higher up than the other two times and thus resulted in the worst crash, but the man was wounded in this one. To this day, he does not know what exactly happened. He only remembers something blowing up against the Huey, pretty much destroying the rotor and causing them to slam into the ground. He does not remember if he was wounded by the crash, what shot them down, or both. All he remembers of that time was everything before they were hit in this third flight, them being hit and going down, and him being carried by this other copilot, who was wounded too but not as badly as him, to yet another later Huey.
    Once again, they made it back to the FOB, but before he got sent away for medical treatment, the air boss chewed him out for "losing so many damn Hueys." The man does not remember what exactly went down after that moment, and he attributes that to being out of it from the wounds and the anesthesia for the treatment. He only knows that after that, while he was still allowed to fly Hueys, he was barred from ever flying to or even around combat zones and would predominantly fly transport between secured locations.
    Also, the last time he flew Hueys for the Army was the fall of Saigon (he was one of the last Hueys out of there, but he was not in any of the ones you see in photos about the evacuation).

    • @emerkamp1
      @emerkamp1 3 місяці тому +3

      Cool story, thanks

    • @hades9189
      @hades9189 3 місяці тому +3

      thank you for sharing

    • @radude4763
      @radude4763 3 місяці тому +4

      Man got shot down 3 times and lived.

    • @tysonbasye5171
      @tysonbasye5171 2 місяці тому +2

      What a great story! Thank you for sharing.
      One of my best friend’s dad was shot down in a helicopter in Vietnam. His name was Jim Kelley, and he was our police chief back home for a long time.
      Jim was about 6’ 6” or 6’ 7”… not exactly a great size for being on a helicopter or airplane.
      Anyway, he was on a chopper that got shot down and I believe had to spend the night underneath it before he was able to get picked up the next day.
      He said they had a big board in the chow hall that had the names of guys killed or missing from their missions, and when he walked back in, his name was on the board, and one of the guys who had seen his chopper go down said something like, “Well hey, Jim! Somebody thought you were supposed to be dead! Great to see ya back from the other side!”
      Jim passed from a heart attack a few years ago, but he was a really really cool guy.

  • @nokiademon773
    @nokiademon773 3 місяці тому +77

    @The Fat Electrician
    I think youre popular because you remind the U.S.A. who we can be. Thats noble no matter which way you slice it. Thanks. Keep up the great work.

  • @zoptar
    @zoptar 2 місяці тому

    the moment you showed the first pic of the double ace! my mind was blown. so many characters in movies n media all connected to the og ace! cool story!

  • @teddavis7032
    @teddavis7032 2 місяці тому +1

    You have to cover Mary Walker served as a medic and eventually a dr during the Civil war only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor 🎖 she's freaking awesome

  • @kjteitel
    @kjteitel 3 місяці тому +371

    OK Fat Electrician, now we need the "Rest of the story" on Daniel 'Chappie' James Jr. He is another main character in history that we need to know. You can't just leave us with that little bit! That is just cruel. You just did an incredible segment with two main characters but only really gave a view into one. Oh and thank you for the hard work, it's appreciated.

    • @pauldietrich6790
      @pauldietrich6790 3 місяці тому +9

      Yes. He was the AF Commander in Libya I believe when they went rouge...

    • @GraemePayne1967Marine
      @GraemePayne1967Marine 2 місяці тому +2

      DANG! I have heard this story before, but ... Your high-energy presentation is by far the Best I have seen or heard. Thank You from this old Marine ground-pounder.

    • @modelwrong
      @modelwrong 2 місяці тому +2

      ​@@pauldietrich6790The Lybians were putting on make-up? 😂 ETA: He said rouge, not rogue; there's a big difference.

    • @robertserini4979
      @robertserini4979 2 місяці тому +1

      ​@@modelwrongI saw that too. My 1st thought "is that anything like 'going plaid'?" (Spaceballs)

    • @MattH-wg7ou
      @MattH-wg7ou Місяць тому

      Blackman and Robin! As they were known lovingly.

  • @53cards92
    @53cards92 3 місяці тому +28

    As I’m watching, I’m seeing the video’s likes going up by the hundreds every minute. If there isn’t an award for “Best UA-cam Historian”, I hope they make one just for this channel

  • @pauulkubasek1815
    @pauulkubasek1815 2 місяці тому

    You’ve got a great flow. Subscribed

  • @eisirt55
    @eisirt55 2 місяці тому

    Great video . Great story .Very engaging presentation.

  • @RipRLeeErmey
    @RipRLeeErmey 3 місяці тому +62

    15:45 "Black Man and Robin" is fucking amazing 😭

  • @DariusHilarious
    @DariusHilarious 3 місяці тому +136

    Hello, I have a question.
    When did you realize that you could really razzle dazzle the people of the world with your voice and choice of words? It is GOLD.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  3 місяці тому +70

      Started making videos about 2 years ago i still dont understand why people like me lol and thank u

    • @TheGraffiti600rr
      @TheGraffiti600rr 3 місяці тому +8

      The way you explain things and the regular humor through every episode makes every episode great. The kids and wife have all learned at least a little from you. Lol. Wife really liked the Aldi episode but I think was most shocked by the cheese bunkers. Lol. You're great Nick. Please keep doin what you're doin.

    • @samwise413
      @samwise413 3 місяці тому +3

      I started to see other people doing clips on your videos cracked me up

    • @rhawkas2637
      @rhawkas2637 3 місяці тому +5

      @@the_fat_electrician Cause of your storytelling and humor.

    • @DariusHilarious
      @DariusHilarious 2 місяці тому +2

      @@the_fat_electrician always, if you haven’t covered November 8, 1965 then let’s do it!

  • @scottyallen7237
    @scottyallen7237 2 місяці тому +1

    Thanks for making this a totally merit-based video! What a great piece of badass history!

  • @johndugger1028
    @johndugger1028 2 місяці тому +1

    man, you are hands down the best storyteller I have ever seen on you tube! I have been binging your vids for the last 2 days. Can't believe I didn't watch you since I follow donut and ak jesus. But I see ya now3. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO.. Much love from Oklahoma

  • @md_vandenberg
    @md_vandenberg 3 місяці тому +31

    The moment you put Robin Olds on-screen, I immediately said, "you'd have to be stupid to fuck with that guy." Main character energy for sure.

  • @TexasTacT
    @TexasTacT 3 місяці тому +29

    Normal politician shenanigans already gives me an aneurysm but the beginning of this video has given me a full on hematoma.

  • @slehar
    @slehar 2 місяці тому

    Wow! Great story, superb delivery!

  • @stevepaquette4534
    @stevepaquette4534 23 дні тому

    I have heard about his operation before. However never as entertaining as you made it. Thank you.

  • @DonPatrono
    @DonPatrono 3 місяці тому +54

    "Why do I hear the Freebird solo?" - Half of the North Vietnamese MiG pilots during Op. Bolo

  • @charlie1832
    @charlie1832 3 місяці тому +40

    As a plumber I hate to admit that an electrician is one of if not my favorite channel on UA-cam

    • @g-mancollections5264
      @g-mancollections5264 2 місяці тому

      I figure y'all have a fire department police department like rivalry?

    • @charlie1832
      @charlie1832 2 місяці тому

      @@g-mancollections5264 pretty much, they’re premadonnas who don’t like to get dirty or clean up after themselves

  • @s.d.bobplissken5674
    @s.d.bobplissken5674 2 місяці тому

    Love your work man. Informative and entertaining and eyecandy. Really enjoy you bringing the wife into the mix. You two look really good together.

  • @DonnyTrent5533
    @DonnyTrent5533 3 місяці тому +148

    Yo, Nic. You forgot about one of the other main characters of this story: Col. Freddy 'Boots' Blessé. If Olds was James Bond, you can think of Blessé as Q.
    Thing is, Olds was actually a staunch proponent of the idea that the Phantom didn't need a gun, whereas Blessé argued the opposite. The two once got into a shouting match and almost physical fight over the subject at the Pentagon. Eventually, Olds was sent out to figure out how to fly the Phantom (which Blessé was already qualified on) and Blesse got some Pentagon money to keep developing his idea of the Phantom gun pods.
    In 1967 Blesse managed to get a hundred or so 20mm gun pods sent to Vietnam. Along with a few guys he knew, they trained how to use 20mm as well as actually get some kills in.
    Story goes that Olds was still unconvinced, but let a couple of his guys carry the guns. During Operation Bolo, four MiGs were shot down with guns; their usefulness was unquestionable at this point. In credit to Olds; the best part of this particular part of the story is that after the conclusion of Operation Bolo, Blessé was unable to return to his base at Da Nang and had to divert to Ubon, where Olds was based. Upon learning this, Olds stormed to the officer's club...to shake Blessé's hand.

    • @reinbeers5322
      @reinbeers5322 2 місяці тому +16

      From what I recall, its not so much that Olds didn't want the gun, its that the gunpod was heavy, inaccurate, and took up a drop tank pylon.
      Blessé did his gunpod 'trial' flight with a handpicked team of good pilots who knew how to dogfight; most pilots in vietnam didn't have such training or experience, and Olds thought that having a gun would put them in more trouble unless they received proper training first.
      Both were right in different ways, but the gunpod turned out to be a good idea, as we know now.

    • @DaisiesTC
      @DaisiesTC 2 місяці тому +7

      I don't think Olds was opposed to the F-4 having an internal gun like the later models had, he just wasn't a fan of the gunpods which heavily hindered flight performance and reduced fuel capacity.

    • @DonnyTrent5533
      @DonnyTrent5533 2 місяці тому +4

      @@DaisiesTC Yeah I agree with you on the training part. Definitely most pilots who lacked the skill, experience and/or knowledge of how to employ that weapon would suffer, but that means nothing to the people who do have any one of those.
      As to the problem of the pods taking up space for gas. In 1967, before they started flying deep into North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and taking off from bases in Thailand, that wasn't a problem. The Phantoms gas tanks were large enough for most missions even without the drop tanks (which the Phantom could carry 3 of). I read a book long ago (long enough ago that I don't remember much else about it) that said most pilots liked the drop tanks because they helped attenuate some of the Phantoms' (well documented) weird handling characteristics.

    • @ToreDL87
      @ToreDL87 2 місяці тому +1

      7 kills were scored during Operation Bolo, 4 with Aim 7 Sparrow's and 3 with Aim 9 Sidewinders.
      So who told you that gunpod baloney?

    • @Xeno426
      @Xeno426 2 місяці тому +4

      @@DonnyTrent5533 It's notable that the USN and USAF's response to losses in Vietnam were quite different. The Navy created the "Top Gun" program, and began massively emphasising proper BFM training. The USAF went and got the F-4E with an internal gun, but didn't focus quite so hard on the BFM training.
      The difference in losses and kills between the two services gives a pretty stark example of which was more important, the gun or the training. And given the USN had the vastly superior ratio while never operating a Phantom with an internal gun, the needle is decidedly on the "training" part.