THE PHANTOMS OF UBON - Original Oil on Canvas

On 20 May 1967, the swashbuckling Colonel Robin Olds downed two North Vietnamese MiG fighters. Appointed to command the USAF’s 8th Tactical Fighter Wing flying F-4 Phantoms out of Ubon in Thailand, Olds was determined to do what he’d always done as a commander – lead by example. It wasn’t long before his plain-talking, no-nonsense, inspirational leadership had rejuvenated the pilots under his command: Olds’ Phantom ‘Wolf Pack’ soon morphed into one of the most feared USAF units in south-east Asia.

Already a top ‘Double Ace’ in World War II, those two Phantom victories in May 1967 raised his overall tally to 15 and cemented his reputation as one of the world’s greatest fighter leaders. But Olds wasn’t finished: by the time he relinquished his command in September 1967 he’d notched up two more MiG kills to bring his overall tally to 17. He was now one of the world’s few ‘Triple Aces’.

Award winning artist Keith Burns has captured the atmosphere at Ubon during the summer of 1967 perfectly. Carefully researched with the help of veterans who served with Olds in Ubon, Keith’s oil painting depicts his F-4C Phantom ‘Scat XVIII’ of the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron in one of Ubon’s secure revetments with his diligent ground crew ready and waiting for his return.

Keith's original paintings don't normally hang around and we're sure this stunning new offering won't be available for long! Contact us for more info or to discuss bespoke framing requirements.