The Collings Foundation painted their F-4D to look like Olds' F-4C used in Operation Bolo, arguably one of the most successful MiG sweeps of the war...

As told to me by one of the crew chiefs at Ellington:

Olds had two personal jets in the SEA conflict. The Collings folks called him and asked which tail number to put on their airplane.

He paused and said "Which one is in Wright Patt?" They told him. "Put the other one on yours."

Olds passed a week later.

I met Olds in 2001 at a Reserve Drill weekend. He talked for half an hour, then took questions and answers. I stood up and asked him:

"Sir, you have flown some classic airplanes. Which one is your favorite?"

He looked at me and addressed me by my callsign. "How many hours do you have in the Phantom?"

I told him. (I have a lot).

He paused, looked at the floor, and then gave me the finger in front of 300 people saying "God, I envy you! I loved that airplane!"

The whole place erupted in laughter.

I smiled and sat down, telling everyone after I had never been so proud to be flipped-off by a one-star General in my whole life. I knew, starting with his tradition of doing so at the Academy, that such an act was merely an irreverant act of comraderie and admiration.

He was one hell of a fighter pilot.