Legendary Pensacola Bar Closes After 50 Years

Every flight base, regardless of service branch, usually has a great bar not far away. For instance, there was George the Crook's on the Azorean island of Terceria, close to Lajes Field. There, NATO ASW crews would unwind after too many hours of flying. There were mission patches, helmets, national flags and other remembrances from the transient crews.

In Pensacola, the place was Trader Jon's, which catered to Navy aviation types from Seaman Basic to Admiral of the Fleet.

"With my affection for Trader and having spent years down there since flight training, it's the end of an era," said retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman, president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

George the Crook's is long gone.

Rumor had it burned to the ground. Now, Trader Jon's is closed. Indeed, it's the end of an era.

"That whole business of a commanding officer leading his whole squadron to Trader Jon's -- nobody left until the commanding officer left -- that was the good old days," Fetterman said. "Now that same commanding officer will have somebody up on a DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge and drum them out of the Navy."

If it hadn't been for the booze, Trader Jon's might have been a museum. And, thanks to Fetterman and crew, much of it will be. More than 10,000 items from the bar are being donated to the museum foundation.

You won't be able to catch the three wire at the bar and tank up on brew, but the memorabilia will live on. There aren't any firm decisions yet.

"I can guarantee you when we do something with it, we're going to do it properly," Fetterman said.

FMI: www.naval-air.org