by John M Czarnota

I was a Crewchief on a Phantom F-4C in the 92nd TFS from 1967-1970. Although I wasn't thrilled about being in the military at the time, thirty years later I find most of my fondest memories are from my years at Bentwaters, the guys I worked with, and just experiencing England and the people.

I remember buying my patches from "Dot" who used to run a tiny little snack bar on the second floor of the first (runway side) of the five hangars remaining after the F-101 crash. At that time( '67) the building was occupied by the 91TFS and the 92TFS had the second.

Everyone was "LUV" to Dot, she cooked a mean burger, introduced me to brown mustard and taught me to say "TA" instead of "thank you".

To make a long story short, the BX decided to open a snack bar on the flightline, and Dot was forced to close up shop. I still have the personalized squadron coffee mug she ordered for me, still in one piece after all these years!

"MUG SHOTS" -
[Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun - Linn Barringer]

This is one of two cups I had. The other said "SOGGY NOODLES". My first day on the flight line the NCO greeting the new arrivals was calling out our names to see who was who. After calling out a few names he came to one which he was having a hard time pronouncing, I knew it must be mine. He started out "Zaka....., Zaka Nu,.....Zaka Nuta..... Oh Hell ...Soggy Noodles, are you here?" I responded and from then on I was "Soggy" "Sog" or "Czar".