The National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, is adding a new exhibit to honor the late fighter ace Robin Olds. The exhibit is slated to open in spring 2011 as part of a larger renovation of the museum’s southeast Asia gallery. Olds retired as a brigadier general in 1973; he died in 2007 at age 84. During World War II, he was credited with 12 kills flying P-38s and P-51s. He was also the first F-4 pilot to score four combat victories during the Vietnam War. The exhibit will feature flight gear used by Olds, showcase his leadership talent, and his role in Operation Bolo that led to many North Vietnamese MiG-21 losses. (Dayton release by Rob Bardua) (Museum Web site) (For more on Olds, read The Robin Olds Factor from the Air Force Magazine archives.)
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…