RAF Alconbury, England Enlisted Aquarius Club
<p>The history of socializing between the British ladies and the American Airmen assigned to Alconbury goes back to when the Americans first arrived at Alconbury during World War II. In 1942 when the Americans first arrived in the United Kingdom, living conditions were harsh for the British, and the Americans had large supplies of cigarettes, nylons and spirits. However, the Americans were genuinely appreciated by the British, who extended a hand of welcome to them. Many of these liaisons between the British ladies and Americans bloomed into true love matches rather than merely commercial transactions, as the many marriages between US servicemen and British women (the GI brides) is evidence of. Social dances were held both at the Alconbury Airbase, as well as the 2d Strategic Air Depot during the war.
</p><p>When the base was reopened in the early 1950s, this tradition continued. As part of the re-building of the World War II 2d Strategic Air Depot, the facility was transformed into the Cold War ground station of RAF Alconbury, containnig the USAF Clinic, Base Exchange, Post Office, Commisary, barracks, military family housing, and other facilities.    Buildings 671, the former recreation block, and partially on the ration store 670 were rebuilt into an Airman's club, by re-using two World War II Nissen Huts and other materials.  The Airman's Club opened about 1957.  By the 1960s, the Airman's Club at RAF Alconbury was said to be one of the best nightclubs in the United Kingdom. It became known as the "Aquarius Club". In the mid-1960s mainstream entertainers often performed there. By the mid-1970s, the "AQ Club", as it was also known, was considered to be one of the finest disco dance clubs.
</p><p>Each Friday and Saturday night two or three bus loads of ladies, primarily from the Huntingdon area, but also from the Northamptonshire towns of Kettering and Corby (the "Corby Commandos") and Leicester or ("Leicester Molesters") would be allowed on the base to go to the club and socialise with the young American Airmen. The round-trip bus fare was only 50 pence, and quite a few ladies were regular visitors.
</p><p>The origin term "Commandos" is uncertain. The legend goes that woman's entrance fee was usually paid for by the man who signed to escort her. But before signing in was required, the first 50 women were allowed in free of charge. This created a rush to be one of the first into the club. It is alleged that one evening, an airman saw the bus arrive and seeing the women fighting to get into the club, said to his buddy "Look at them, they look like a bunch of commandos."
</p><p>Normally the club would be standing-room-only with men and women in their twenties enjoying the disco music, pizza, slot machines, beer, cocktails, and members of the opposite sex in an environment that matched the best clubs in London at the time. There was a yearly membership charge to Airmen but there was no cover charge to enter the club and the prices of food and drink were much less than in London.
</p><p>Many single men and women met their future spouses at the Aquarius club. Although the Alconbury NCO Club also had music and dancing, the environment at the Aquarius Club was more geared towards the single Airmen and was much more fast-paced. The ratio of women to men was often two-to-one at weekends.
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With the departure of the 10th Air Base Wing in 1994, the Alconbury NCO and Aquarius Club were both closed.   The NCO club was consolidated into an all-ranks enlisted open mess, designated as the Stukeley Inn. It contains a Starbucks, internet cafe and you can rent out the main area for parties. The former Airman's club was torn down and today is a grassy area.
Unknown photographer
Unknown photographer