The DU Lounge

trof

(54,256 posts) Sat Jul 28, 2012, 08:03 PM Jul 2012

OK, one more ANG tale: The Whiskey Run

Background: Alabama has state liquor stores. And high 'sin' taxes on booze. It's very expensive here. Back in the 60s booze was relatively cheap in Louisiana.

The squadron had planned a Christmas party.
The General decided to dispatch his C-47 to New Orleans to buy booze for our party.
This was highly illegal.
The Goonie Bird was kind of his 'personal' transportation. It was tricked out with red leather couches and a bar. Generals got stuff like that back then. Probably still do.

Anyway, they guys assigned to the mission flew to NOLA, bought several cases of booze, and headed back to Birmingham.
They were on short final, gear down, when a mysterious voice came over the tower frequency.
"AIR NATIONAL GUARD ONE-FIVE...GO AROUND!"
(From the pilot) "Say again tower?"
(Tower) "That was not our transmission."
And again "AIR NATIONAL GUARD ONE-FIVE...GO AROUND! DO NOT LAND!"

The pilot then understood something wasn't quite right and declared "ANG ONE-FIVE is missed approach" and just...departed the area.

As I have said before, higher rank in the guard was a very political position.
There was a faction that was out to get The General.
I make no judgement who was right or wrong, or even if there WAS a 'right or wrong'.

But...a few hours later the C-47 returned to Birmingham.
Empty.
I never learned what happened to the cargo of liquor.
I hope whoever got it had a great party.
Ours was somewhat subdued.
Beer and wine and BYOL if you wanted something stronger.

14 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

OK, one more ANG tale: The Whiskey Run (Original Post) trof Jul 2012 OP

Sounds like they would have been in trouble had they landed, my dear trof... CaliforniaPeggy Jul 2012 #1

Here's what the rumor was at the time: trof Jul 2012 #14

When I was in the USAF you could always tell who the Guard aircrews were Major Nikon Jul 2012 #2

That's US! trof Jul 2012 #7

wow. that one calls for The Rest of The Story Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2012 #3

Still don't know answer to 1st 2 questions. Yes, 'they' finally got The General. trof Jul 2012 #5

This guy? Ptah Jul 2012 #6

wow. Ptah is Super Spy! Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2012 #8

The Judicial Council has access to a lot of information. Ptah Jul 2012 #10

if I ever have to go to court that is where I want to go Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2012 #13

That's the guy. trof Jul 2012 #11

is Ptah right? is that the man? Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2012 #9

When I was in the USAF, stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois, I was assigned .... Scuba Jul 2012 #4

Good one. trof Jul 2012 #12

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,683 posts)

1. Sounds like they would have been in trouble had they landed, my dear trof...

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sat Jul 28, 2012, 08:16 PM

Jul 2012

Good thing they didn't.

I'm sorry about the party, though...

LOVE your stories!

trof

(54,256 posts)

14. Here's what the rumor was at the time:

Reply to CaliforniaPeggy (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 05:25 PM

Jul 2012

Agents from the ABC (Alabama Beverage Control office) were waiting on the ground ready to pounce on the untaxed (in Alabama) booze and The General.
They had evidently been tipped off by people 'not friendly to him'.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

2. When I was in the USAF you could always tell who the Guard aircrews were

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sat Jul 28, 2012, 10:58 PM

Jul 2012

They were the ones leaving the Class 6 with a hand truck.

trof

(54,256 posts)

7. That's US!

Reply to Major Nikon (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:46 AM

Jul 2012

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

3. wow. that one calls for The Rest of The Story

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 07:35 AM

Jul 2012

where did they land? who took the liquor? did that faction ever "get" the General?

trof

(54,256 posts)

5. Still don't know answer to 1st 2 questions. Yes, 'they' finally got The General.

Reply to Tuesday Afternoon (Reply #3)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:37 AM

Jul 2012

He coerced subordinates, full time guard members who were state employees, to kick into a political 'kitty'. The funds collected were given to political campaigns, mostly gubernatorial.
This was a violation of the Hatch Act and eventually a few of the officers challenged him on it.

I've heard that he was either (1) convicted in court, or (2) possibly just allowed to resign his position.

His name was George Reid Doster and I can find zero about this on the web.

Ptah

(33,034 posts)

6. This guy?

Reply to trof (Reply #5)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:40 AM

Jul 2012

http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/023.htm

His Air National Guard career began with his assignment as the Liaison Officer for the
Alabama Air National Guard in 1946. This assignment gave the General the distinction
of being the first Air Guardsman in Alabama after the close of World War II. Later
assignments included Administrative Inspector, Intelligence Staff Officer and Deputy
Chief of Staff. While holding those assignments General Doster attained the rank of Major
on 23 June 1948; Lieutenant Colonel on 26 June 1951 and Colonel on 29 June 1954.
In July 1955 he assumed command of the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing which
embraced flying units from Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama as well as Meridian,
Mississippi and Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 29 October 1957.
He held this position until 31 January 1963 on which date he was assigned as Chief of Staff,
Alabama Air National Guard with the rank of Major General. General Doster was assigned
additional duty as acting Commander, 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 27 August 1963.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

8. wow. Ptah is Super Spy!

Reply to Ptah (Reply #6)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:49 AM

Jul 2012

Ptah

(33,034 posts)

10. The Judicial Council has access to a lot of information.

Reply to Tuesday Afternoon (Reply #8)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:52 AM

Jul 2012

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

13. if I ever have to go to court that is where I want to go

Reply to Ptah (Reply #10)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:56 AM

Jul 2012

trof

(54,256 posts)

11. That's the guy.

Reply to Ptah (Reply #6)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:55 AM

Jul 2012

It was also guys from our squadron, under his leadership, who flew air cover (or tried to) in the Bay of Pigs fiasco. It was all very cloak-and-dagger.

That was a couple of years before I joined in 1963.
I flew with a couple of the Bay of Pigs pilots.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

9. is Ptah right? is that the man?

Reply to trof (Reply #5)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:49 AM

Jul 2012

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

4. When I was in the USAF, stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois, I was assigned ....

Reply to trof (Original post)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 07:56 AM

Jul 2012

.... to the 1400 Transportation Squadron. One day we received a shipment from a General stationed in Alaska addressed to another General stationed there at Scott. Packed on ice were three large, beautiful salmon, looking remarkably delicious.

The MSGT in charge was an old hand, and knew exactly how to deal with it. He phoned the General who was to receive the salmon. The end of the conversation I heard went something like this: "General, we received a shipment of fish for you, but the ice all melted and they're pretty stinky." ..... "Yes, General, we'll take care of it."

The phone call ended, the MSGT turned to us and said "We've been ordered to dispose of these fish. Get the grill going."

Man, was that a great cookout.

trof

(54,256 posts)

12. Good one.

Reply to Scuba (Reply #4)

Sun Jul 29, 2012, 08:56 AM

Jul 2012

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