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Daughter of legendary "Ace" celebrates Mustache March with Laughlin

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jhanelle Haag
  • 47FTW/PA
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A special guest judged Laughlin's Mustache March contestants and spoke about her "Ace" father on March 28, 2014, here.

"A friend actually sent me the email with the link attached about mustache March being a sanctioned event," said Christina E. Olds, daughter of retired Brig. Gen. Robin "Ace" Olds. "I began jumping up and down in my office because I was so excited."

Olds, along with three other judges, from the base, picked the 47th Flying Training Wing's best and worst mustaches.

"When it came to picking the best mustache, the criteria I was looking for was the airmen that truly went for it and grew it out like my father," Olds said. "I was looking for the individual that really tried to capture my dad's spirit."

During the Vietnam War, superstitious pilots believed a fine bulletproof mustache would bring them back safely. Olds sported a waxed, non-regulation handle bar mustache. He wore the mustache out of defiance to leadership and higher headquarters specifically for not using his suggestions on targets and war fighting.

Today airmen pay homage to the "Triple-Ace" by growing their mustache's out in March.

"He just wanted us to win the war, and he felt like we could do it if leadership would just let them fight," said Olds.

Olds received his triple ace rate after shooting down a total of 16 enemy aircraft during World War ll and the Vietnam War. Olds flew 107 missions during WW ll with 12 confirmed kills and 152 missions during Vietnam with four confirmed MiG kills.

"I want people to remember my father for being the great leader that he was," Olds said. "Anytime we were at a new base he would meet everyone and I mean everyone. He would go to the shoppette, the barber shop, the flight line to talk to maintainers, he wanted to meet everyone at the base and let them know 'I'm here for you.'"

When asked how her father would feel about the gauntlet challenge, Olds explained, that her father would really get a kick out of all of this.

"When it came to the airman that was always his priority, to take care of them and sit down and talk with all of them," said Olds. "That's what makes my father truly special was the selfless acts he did for his troops."

Whether airmen were able to grow a mustache or not, this month was about more than just facial hair. It was a way to pay tribute to one of the best fighter pilots the world has ever seen.