Oliver Cromwell Aldrich, Jr. was born in Houston, TX on November 11, 1918. A 7th generation Texan, he graduated at Edinburgh High School in 1936 and attended Texas A & M College of Mechanical Engineering from 1936 to 1937. He farmed in the Rio Grande Valley from 1938 until the 1950s when a freeze destroyed all the crops and the citrus orchards. He and his wife of 52 years, Alice, had four children and six grandchildren. His younger brother, George M. Aldrich was renown for his model airplane designs, model engine enhancements and was "National Model Stunt Champion" for several years.

Although never a pilot, Oliver Aldrich belonged to many organizations that supported his interests in airplanes, air racing, and building model aircraft. He was a member of the Society of Air Racing Historians (SOARH), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAC), Bomber Field, Inc., and Academy of Model Aeronautics.

He subscribed to many aviation related periodicals and took pride in having copies of Model Airplane News going back 45 years.

An avid collector, Oliver Aldrich went to many air shows, air museums and air club meetings and gatherings. He took pictures, made videos and sound recordings. He saved programs, tickets, membership information and souveniers from the many places he visited and the meetings he attended. He first went to the Reno Air Races in about 1948 and continued until the year of his death, 1993.