Kerosene Cowboys: Manning The Spare

Even though one fourth of total flight time must be flown at night, for most Tactical Naval Aviators when the sun goes down its time to shed their speed slacks, splash on a little cologne and head for the O'Club bar. Undoubtedly, there would be a bevy of beauties adorning the barstools this Friday evening at the Jack Black Memorial Officer's Club. After all, it was the day before a huge Drill Weekend for the air station with Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Air Guard units all scheduled to be in town for their last drill of 1991. Indeed, the Jackson's ($20 bills) would be flying across the bar tonight. Without question many of the single, and not so single, women in Southeastern Louisiana were aware of this fact and would be out in search of a pilot for a little rest and relaxation before the hectic pace of the holiday season took its annual toll. It wasn't close to the spectacle that occurs each Wednesday evening at the Officer's Club at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. It couldn't even compare to Thursday nights at the Spin Drifter Tavern in Jacksonville. But for Belle Chasse, Louisiana, it was the only game in town on a Drill Weekend.