Bullseye Magnetic Bottle Opener

Bullseye Magnetic Bottle Opener rustic style by – Squadron Posters!

The Squadron Bar Tradition: Every fighter squadron in the Air Force (and most US military aviation squadrons) have a bar located somewhere within its domain. it’s currently called a (politically correct) “heritage room”, however it still serves aviators as a sanctuary. One of the most sacred traditional events is the “Roll Call”. It dates back to World War I when technology did not permit radios in airplanes. Reconnaissance aircraft occasionally used Morse-code radios but often removed them to save weight. These aircraft reportedly preferred dropping notes to the advancing forces on the ground. Fighters however, didn’t have any radio equipment but rather utilized formation flying and visual signals to coordinate attacks. At the end of the day, the squadron Commander would summon the pilots and take roll for accountability. Those not at Roll Call were considered missing in action or killed in combat.

Roll calls were not taken lightly. Once the German and Allied armies dug in and trench warfare ensued, pilot casualty rates normally exceeded their infantry counterparts on the ground. Over the entire war, an estimated 20 percent of all pilots were lost and the average pilot only lasted two weeks on the front lines before being shot down. In 1918, the average British pilot lived only 93 flight hours. Often, Roll Call was a sobering moment when pilots accepted the losses of their brethren and came to terms with their loss together. This comfort couldn’t last long, as they typically had to return to combat the following day. To help them overcome this dilemma, they turned to *“imbibing” (consume alcohol), singing songs, and telling tall tales about their conquests to lighten the atmosphere. The Squadron Bar was a time and place to honor those who went before them while also celebrating the camaraderie of the pilots that were still together. As accountability became more accurate, Roll Call became less about taking roll and more about the essential camaraderie it fosters within the formations and the entire unit. Check out this rustic Bullseye Magnetic Bottle Opener by – Squadron Posters!

Squadron Posters offers the world’s largest collection of Squadron Specific Art! Check out our stunning vintage style military aviation themed travel posters, honoring All Branches of Service. Our artwork not only represents aircraft, armored cavalry, or ships, it represents adventure and travel. This means we create posters featuring the Space Needle, New Orleans, the Golden Gate Bridge, Mt Rushmore and the National Mall. Of course, McChord AFB isn’t in Seattle but if you’re stationed there your adventure surely involves the Space Needle! (See our Facebook page HERE)

This is what makes Squadron Posters different–it’s about remembering where you’ve lived and what you’ve seen with a vintage themed travel poster. – Collect your travels and tell your story!