Background
Olds, Robert was born on June 15, 1896 in Woodside, Maryland, United States. Son of Henry W. and May Clendening (Meigs) Olds.
Olds, Robert was born on June 15, 1896 in Woodside, Maryland, United States. Son of Henry W. and May Clendening (Meigs) Olds.
Educated Central High School, Washington, District of Columbia, and private tutors. Graduate Air Corps Tactical School, 1928, Command and General staff schedul, 1935.
Joined Aviation Section of Signal Corps. June 1917; rated Reserve military, aviator, May 1917. Commissioned First lieutenant, Signal Officers Reserve Corps.
June 1917.
Commanded, 17th Aeronautical Squadron, San Antonio, Texas, 1917. Instructor Scott Field, Believille, Illinois, Ellington Field, Houston,Texas, later officer in charge of flying. Arrived in France with American Expeditionary Forces, September 1918, assigned officer in charge of training at clermont Ferrand instruction center staff 2nd Army Air Service commander at Toul.
With Hawaiian Department, 1919-1922, War Plans Division, Office of Chief of Air Corps, Washington District of Columbia, 1922-1926.
Promoted to major, 1935. Rated command pilot, military airplane pilot, combat observer.
Assistant to chief inspector, later chief of inspection section, G.H.O. Air Force, 1935-1937. As commanding officer 2nd Bombardment Group, Langley Field, Virginia, piloted Flying Fortress Northern 10, on non-stop transcontinental flight of 7 Flying Fortresses to Rio de Janeiro, November 1939.
Promoted to colonel October 1940.
Command of Air Corps Ferrying Command, delivering bombers to England, since June 1941.
Member Order of Daedalians. Clubs: Columbia Country, Army and Navy (Washington, District of Columbia).
Married Eloise Wichman, October 22, 1921 (died 1926). Married 2nd, Marjorie Marvin, 1928 (divorced). Children: Robin, Stevan Meigs.