Air Force Pilots, Alcohol consumption and the Officers Club. What could go wrong?

Air Force Pilots, Alcohol consumption and the Officers Club. What could go wrong?

[@David-nx2vm]

I’m a retired AF officer. Officers clubs were always a tough proposition with a small - by definition - customer base. When the AF began deglamorizing alcohol and senior leaders were counting how many beers you had, people started to stay away. When bases brought in Chili’s, and other commercial restaurants, more people stayed away. Even overseas, you didn’t need the club for check cashing and other activities. Then, when Services converted employee positions to intermittent-other-part time and paid them minimum wage, long-standing loyal employees left, the staff became a revolving door and customer service plummeted. Full service dining went to buffet-only, closed for breakfast, etc. Most officers clubs now are ghost towns. Too bad; I experienced the tail end of the “good old days”.

[@ronrogers]

I guess I got out at the right time!

[@bombsaway6340]

Stopped for fuel and RON many times at Randolph, and early in my career it was a wild place. Got stationed at Randolph in the early 2000’s. The Auger Inn was a geriatric clinic by then.

[@ronrogers]

Bummer! Sorry to hear that!

[@USAFUser]

The good ole days .We used up our share of the fun ,before it was gone forever

[@ericsd55]

I think the "but I digress" are the best parts! :)

[@brihath0805]

I have a "rang the bell" story that occurred in the NCO Club at Pease AFB, NH (509th Bomb Wing with 30 FB-111's and 35 KC-135's). I was stationed there as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer from 1973-1976. Whenever we would pass an ORI, the flight crews would buy the beer for the maintenance troops. They would set up kegs and tables in the fuel cell hangar and the beer flowed like water! I had downed several beers when our OMS Maintenance Superintendent told me they were going to "Choir practice at the Synagogue", his phrase for drinking at the NCO Club, and I was invited! I felt honored by the invitation and headed over to the club. It was three deep at the bar. I was already well oiled, but I downed a couple of beers with them and got ready to leave. Somebody yelled out "Hey Lieutenant....don't forget your hat!". At that point, I put on my hat and the bartender rang the bell. This was when the bar was a cash account if you weren't a member, and I had only a few bucks in my wallet. My squadron NCO's came over and lent me all the money I needed to buy the round, and I paid them all back in a couple of days. They were a great group of guys and I enjoyed working with them. BTW...my college roomate was in UPT at Vance in 1972-1973. He got to the point where he was flying the Tweet, but was never able to solo. I think he cycled back a class but still couldn't get the hang of it. He subsequently got his Navigator wings at Mather and served as a BUFF radar nav in the 20th Bomb Wing, ending up as a member of the standboard crew before he got out.

[@ronrogers]

Great story! Thanks for sharing! I love the stories you guys are sharing!!

[@david9530]

When I was an Army officer, I was expected to maintain 24 hour readiness. Getting blotto would not adhere to that standard.

[@DJ-zp2tr]

Attending RTU at Homestead in 74, the stag bar where we hung out had free pitchers of beer on Tuesday nights. Talk about a wild time...beer spilled all over the floor, mig sweeps, trash everywhere. It was really fun to let your hair down there.

[@alanholck7995]

I was in USAF 1989-2010; non-rated O-5. What killed O-club membership was decision in mid-1990s that all O-clubs would ‘outsource’ all of the financial aspects of the club The idea was to issue credit cards to all members; dues, bar/food bills, etc would be charged to the card. To say that this was an unpopular decision is a massive understatement. We didn’t like Corporate USAF impacting our individual credit scores. O-club membership declined by 75%. In some locations, where there was an Army base nearby, some officers joined the Army O-club (which was happy to have additional members) and used the reciprocity agreement to use USAF O-club.

[@ronrogers]

Thanks for the info! I did not know that aspect.

[@ChazToz]

USAF Norton AFB circa 1974-79, membership in the O' Club was unofficially reflected on one's Officer Effectiveness Rating (OER). Being a Military Airlift Command (MAC) base flying C-141 aircraft on global missions many pilots and navigators joined the Clark Officers Club in the Philippines. Monthly dues was $1.50, billed quarterly. One could honestly answer “Yes” to the “Are you a member of the O Club?” question.

[@dalemeek4209]

Oh God, the stories I could tell. I was a waiter at an AF O’club when I was in HS. Strippers on Friday nights, Dining-in’s that were definitely boys club events with closed doors and games. Most memorable were “carrier landings” across the dining room tables and races up the wall for shots.

[@ronrogers]

Oh I bet you have great stories!!

[@ronk2205]

Your stories brought back great memories of various O'Clubs & Stagg Bars through out SEA and Germany and all of that drastically changed in the mid to late 70s. Thank you, Ron.

[@ronrogers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@denniscrowley1325]

I grew up USAF in the 1950s-1970s. My dad used to go on temporary duty (TDY) to the United Kingdom. He told me the Royal Air Force aircrews (pilots-navigators) used to get so loaded they would strip down to their underwear and drive motorcycles through the club.

[@bombsaway6340]

You could pretty much do as you wanted in a RAF club as long as you paid for the damage.

[@hammer3921]

When I reported to Nellis in August 80, there were topless dancers at the O’ club on Wednesday nights. My bachelors party started there before moving downtown. The wives started to complain to the base CO that their husbands weren’t coming home that night so eventually it was shut down.

[@ronrogers]

Bummer! We had a wife who complained (student wife) that the dancers were not very good. The dancer invited her up to show them how then! She did (I was not there, story told to me by a friend). She apparently, as my friend said, had done this before and was VERY good!!

[@bombsaway6340]

I was there. They’d put you in jail for even thinking that way today.

[@WConn100]

The Sergeants and stuff like that? You mean the guys who actually did the work and ran the show.

[@ronrogers]

Exactly!

[@CAPEjkg]

Watch the great Santi O club scene at the beginning of the movie. Semper Fi!

[@thestardusters7640]

Boy! Does that bring back memories!

[@USAFUser]

It sure does.This made me smile. Its been 40 years ago now for me .

[@wtdrone1234]

We had Alexander Butterfield at our dining out; very interesting stories! Ah, yes! O' Club at Vance: was it Fridays or Wednesdays they brought in the strippers from OK City? Drinking and crying over busted check rides, drinking and celebrating over passed check rides. At my first duty base after UPT and CCTS (why not MINOT), upon arrival I reported to my new squadron commander (in a military fashion). Me: "Lt. New Guy reporting as directed, sir." Squadron Commander: "Have you joined the Officer's Club yet?" Me: "Un, no sir, just arrived here." Squadron Commander: "Go join, right now, then come back." Me: "Yes Sir!"

[@urieaaron]

It's freezen that's the reason. 1973-1977

[@ChazToz]

USAF Norton AFB circa 1974-79, membership in the O' Club was unofficially reflected on one's Officer Effectiveness Rating (OER). Being a Military Airlift Command (MAC) base flying C-141 aircraft on global missions many pilots and navigators joined the Clark Officers Club in the Philippines. Monthly dues was $1.50, billed quarterly. One could honestly answer “Yes” to the “Are you a member of the O Club?” question.

[@skid2151]

Sadly the O'Club is dead at most bases. You can no longer "rage" and enjoy being a fighter pilot. Cheers.

[@ronrogers]

That is so sad!

[@terrytomlinson8772]

Navy O'Clubs could get crazy as well but sure was fun

[@brucemcdonald6677]

You left out the best OClub frivolity and drinking in the USAF which was at a Navigator base….JOC night at Mather AFB.

[@6omega2]

Always love the stories Ron. Brings back some of my own memories. Love the channel, Sir. I knew a guy who earned the nickname "Chainsaw" because he once got angry and cut a bar table in the O club in half with one of them. I want to say alcohol consumption played a role in THAT incident. LOL!

[@ronrogers]

Great story!🤣🤣

[@gejjamp]

When I was at the USAFTPS, the USAF was going through another deglamorization of alcohol phase, the USAF NOW filming crew came to town to visit the TPS. The crew was invited to a class party. The crew asked the students to put down their beers. The students looked at the filming crew and told the crew in no uncertain terms that the crew was invited to their party as guests and that if they intended to stay at the party the crew better not say another word as to how the party was going or the crew could leave immediately.

[@ronrogers]

Good move!!

[@christopherblack3102]

When I was a kid and before my Dad retired from the AF in 1980 as a Lt Colonel, we’d go visit him for lunch sometimes at Randolph AFB. The O-club was REALLY nice. With good food too.

[@rondrew2857]

Had the honor of managing the construction of one of those off to the side party rooms at a Marine Corps Air Station a while back. Got to use it when a fellow project manager married to an FA18 pilot took us there one Friday afternoon. We had installed a brick wall on one end so you could throw bottles at it. Included a trash can, broom and dustpan. Only rule was you had to sweep up your glass. I told this to some AF C130 pilots years later and they did not think it was even interesting. On active duty I had some hand in responsibly hiring some talent, and ensuring their early morning safe departure. (Always trust the Chief) Loved the Squadron CO mascot vehicles at MCAS. One was an old limo, super dark tint, with "Don't laugh, you daughter may be inside" lettered on the trunk. Old Navy CEC guy.

[@R760-E2]

The MCAS remains unnamed ?

[@johnmorykwas2343]

All alcohol events at the O Club is still classified. Here is a story involving I at the O Club. For some reason, my alert crew was invited to The Club for lunch. Alert Crews each had their table outside the dining area to place their hats on, so if the klaxon went off each member would grab a flight cap and sort it out in the crew truck on the way to the aircraft. It just so happened that the klaxon went off, and we scrambled out of The Club. It just so happened that there was a two star visiting the base and The Club and placed his cap on our crew table. Guess who grabbed his cap. I was a two star for a while. After things settled down, we exchanged hats at the alert facility with a big laugh.

[@ronrogers]

Great Story!

[@johnmorykwas2343]

@ronrogers SAC O Club were very civilized and low keyed. Nothing was wild at those clubs. TAC was another story. Our squadron was banned from a few. By the way, my call sign was "Mork". Please don't mention the name around any old fighter pukes, it may lead to a lengthy conversation. The 70s and 80s.

[@PatrickW-rx1mm]

I may very well have known the Sandy pilot you mentioned; more than likley he was at NKP where I spent a year flying your most hated aircraft the O-2. Flying the dreaded O-2 over the HCMT day and night was interesting to say the least.. The O club at NKP put to shame any hi-jenks I witnessed at any other club AF or Navy. The fun started at the top, in the person of the Wing Commander, down to the newest Second Ballon. The club motto was "Drunkeness will not be tolerated but it is encouraged. I left the AF in 1969 so I fortunately escaped the emasculation of the clubs.

[@donwilson1307]

Going thru pilot trainning at Webb AFB 1970-1971, always liked it when someone was silly enough to walk into the stagg bar with their hat on. They had to buy a round of drinks for ALL.

[@tomw4id245]

Re: Enlisted sim instructors...in 1970 at Craig AFB, my T-37 sim instructor could demonstrate all the maneuvers hands free, he would trap the stick between his knees and fly all the maneuvers expertly. Good guy, we had a lot of fun.

[@user-xz9hu4rd2v]

Once it took me an hour to walk less than half mile from the Auger In to the Q's.

[@iain3411]

USN E4 E-5 Stationed in Portland OR '75 to '79 active duty. Local bars only if you were over 21. But there were party houses where some shipmate rented a room.

[@bobcfi1306]

Thanks for sharing. 2010 I was at Camp Atterberry, Indiana in the all ranks club for Civil Air Patrol training(so we were actually civilians) They definitely tried to promote the traditional O club atmosphere.

[@bobcfi1306]

Atterbury

[@anthonyvallillo422]

I was there that year, and it was good memories, particularly the Karaoke! And indeed, for that brief moment in time, it did bring me back to the O Club at Craig AFB in 1971. The best clubs were either the UPT bases, where they were home away from home for the many bachelors, or the ones in 'Nam, in the combat zone. The death of military clubs began in the early to mid seventies, when the AF got tired of unwrapping Corvettes off telephone poles and the SP's took up station just outside of the club door. This was as the war was winding down, and careerism once again reared its' head. The death was a slow one, probably postponed longest at, you guessed it, the UPT bases (with their captive audiences). Overall, it probably made sense and saved a life or two, but it sure crushed the buzz!

[@franksimon6617]

If you would like the Navy take on this, check out the history of the Cubi Point NAS O'Club during Vietnam. I was a Supply Corps officer on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31).

[@zonarider673]

I was a little surprised there was no mention of the “carrier landings” performed in USAF o’clubs as I remember them in the the ‘80s.

[@ronrogers]

I don't think we were doing those at the time.

[@MrNoneofthisisreal]

At March AFB in the early sixties the commanding general wrapped his Chrysler Imperial around a tree. He came out OK. The Imperial not so much. The culture was very different. Many officers talked about the wreck but no official acknowledgement was given. I was a dependent then. My dad explained that a lot of the men had risked their lives in WWII and this was part of the warrior code. I was buddies with another Generals son. His dad drunk drove us into town one evening to play with slot cars. It all seemed normal to this 12 year old!

[@ronrogers]

Yes normalization of deviation. Not a good thing!

[@zonarider673]

Ron, @19:59 you mention the Pancho Villa Happy Bottom Riding Club. There may just be one of those in Arizona or New Mexico but not in Nevada🤣 It’s Pancho Barnes’ Happy Bottom Riding Club in Nevada😎 But I digress!

[@larrycooper9487]

Almost got it right. That club was off the south end of the Edwards AFB main runway which is in CALIFORNIA.

[@65gtotrips]

If I’m on a mission, I’d make sure I did well so I can see those halter tops again !

[@ronrogers]

The nose gear pin on the T-37 was very har to reach. One young lady had a slippage accident during pin insertion.

[@quodsum7912]

I was stationed at Ft. Riley, KS in the late 80's - early 90's. The O-club had a long driveway lined with giant old trees on both sides. One night a company grade LT or CPT tore out of the lot in a Porsche or Corvette or whatever, hit one of the trees about half way down the driveway with fatal results. I believe a DUI in any of the services is a career ending deal nowadays.

[@ronrogers]

Well even back in the '70, especially in Oklahoma, it was not going to end well. A year in jail looks very bad on an OER!

[@sergeykoshelev4566]

I can't drink. Like... at all.

[@horaciohernandez598]

You’re not missing out on anything…. Good for you!

[@ShadesOClarity]

I think after the Tailhook controversy O-Club culture and membership changed a lot here at MCAS Cherry Point. A Prowler squadron that was de-commissioned along with the others was VMAQ-2. Their motto was "Can Do Easy" and their tail livery as well as their patches had the Playboy Bunny logo. Somewhere along the way they were re-christened the "Death Jesters" and their logo was this dumb evil-looking jester. All the pilots and ECMOs still wore the patches - some women - of the bunny on their flight suits, however. Everything became too politically correct. They eventually tore down the old O-club near the golf course. My father was an NAVAIR aerospace engineer so he was rated to go to the O-club. It was a beautiful place with blue carpet and a bunch of memorabilia when you came in - photos and stuff with Alfred A. Cunningham, Ted Williams and Greg "Pappy" Boyington. It became Miller's Landing - a joint ranks club.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, I remember seeing the bunny logo!

[@alanholck7995]

When I was I in Okinawa in 1993ish I had Navy O-3 friend who had line on OPR (or whatever Navy calls them) that said ‘This officer did not attend Tailhook 92’.

[@ShadesOClarity]

@@ronrogers I had a shirt with Q2's logo I bought at an air show at Cherry Point a few years back.

[@ShadesOClarity]

@@alanholck7995 Heh. I guess that's good for him.

[@panhandlemikee5573]

​@@alanholck7995Navy Fitness Report (Fitrep): To be advanced to CWO3 in 1994, I had to send a statement to the selection board stating that I did not attend Las Vegas Tailhook in 1992, or I guess I would not get promoted. I was a Navy Reserve Surface ordnance CWO3.

[@RipRoaringGarage]

I was never in the O club, or the E club...I was E4 mafia my whole life. That being said, I was also SF...so I did GO to the O club...just not to drink. Cant say I didnt have fun lol. Good times. Different times.

[@c141heaven]

I went through VANCE in 1972/73. our first week was driver training. Wing Commander came in the first day and welcomed us to the Air Force. He then went on a raging tirade about some student who had recently "PISSED IN A BUTTCAN" at the club on stripper night.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, familiar with the story! He was standing on the bar demonstrating his aim when the wing commander's wife strolled into the O club!

[@c141heaven]

Well, it was stripper night, so she was probably where she belonged 😊

[@RichardCummins-ni4em]

Another good yarn Ron. I am thinking re deserted bars that the Base Commander's wife was a card carrying member of The Women's Temperance Union and he was not and never had been one of you blokes.

[@maxcorder2211]

What could go wrong? Anything and everything. I was at Moody (Valdosta, Georgia) in 69-05. At that time, the legal drinking age in Georgia was 21. But, as we were on a Federal Government facility, it was 18. I don't have a clue why this was, but it certainly served us well. There was a college, Valdosta State, nearby. Many beautiful young ladies. So, some of these young ladies were allowed onto the base and into the O Club. One Friday after flying my student mates and I were in the O Club Stag Bar. The door between the Stag Bar and the dining room and regular bar had a window in it. Around 5 0'clock that day, a group of young ladies appeared just inside the entrance across the dining room. I was in T-37's at the time. My instructor, Capt James, looked through the window, saw the girls, and announced; "Better get out there and cut yourself one out of the herd, boys". Thus continued one of the best years of my life.

[@comlbbeau]

Methinks Maj. Mac probably never was referred to as Lt. Col Mac.

[@jonniez62]

343rd RS, 55 WG, Offutt!

[@icebluecuda1]

Ron. As an AF VN alum and tac air guy, you would be disappointed in the death of the AF esprit de corps and camaraderie today. But thats a discussion over a beer on a layover in ord.

[@ronrogers]

That is what I feared.

[@jamesberwick2210]

Pilots do not drink, NCOs tiaught them to use a funnel.

[@boyddubard4197]

Did you get to the VFW or was it the American Legion on Okinawa? We’re taking Roman Orgy nights. Topless girls serving BBQ chicken and ribs. Then there was Port of Call steak house that hired American dependents to wait tables wearing only a thong. What could go wrong? We got loads of grief for putting that place off limits. This all changed after we returned Okinawa to Japan.

[@ronrogers]

Sorry, never did.

[@stevetobe4494]

I never went to the NCO club the whole ten years in the USAF.

[@ZIGZAGBureauofInvestigation]

I Hate Drunks

[@65gtotrips]

How does that (drinking) work in reference to when you’re going to fly ? Is it like you know you just got off shift or a mission and you know when you’re going to fly the next day or several days after ?

[@ronrogers]

That is correct

[@ronrogers]

And a big problem in the AF is one did not fly very much, even as an IP, but you knew your schedule well ahead of time. I never had to worry about the 8 hour rule. Just didn't fly enough!

[@stephenday1897]

Were you a pilot or a chaplain? Goody two shoes should stay out of the O’Club.

[@ronrogers]

If you don't know I am a pilot, you are not paying attention!

[@PG-ei3ky]

In the early 70's at Fort Hood they had an "O" Club annex across the street from the Corp HQ. During lunch you could eat (meatball sandwich the best) and have a beer(s). Also, female dancers were on stage. Everyone enjoyed lunch and beers including the secretaries that worked on base. Anyway, after 13:00 the dancers use to get down to serious business. Since we were not flying much due to the fuel crisis why not stay late. One day a chaplain's wife came in late to the club. No more strippers.

[@ronrogers]

Good while it lasted!

[@Mart-u2u]

Some of your best digressions so far, sir….. 5:42

[@ronrogers]

Thanks!

[@Mart-u2u]

@@ronrogers Greetings. By chance, was the sandy spad driver named Shatzer? I reported to him when we were at Southwestern Bell/at&t. A fine person and a fine leader. Thank you for the interesting and fun videos!

[@ronrogers]

Sorry not him.