APPENDIX E
INDIVIDUAL SQUADRON SUITE SUMMARIES



TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQUADRON 129 (VAQ-129)
NAVAL AIR STATION, WHIDBEY ISLAND, OAK HARBOR. WA

Hilton Suite Number:          	302
Commanding Officer:          	CDR Richard H. Porritt, Jr., USN 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:              (did not attend Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:    	VAQ-129 and other VAQ squadrons 	
				(EA6B) at NAS Whidbey 
				(12 squadrons)
Squadron Members Attending:     Unable to determine
Suite Financing:           	Individual officer contributions of $25 	
				and excess funds from the Prowler Ball, 
				an annual all VAQ squadron event.
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to Friday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 		
				Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 
				11:00 a.m. to Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served: 	Beer and vodka/lemonade punch
Total Cost of Alcohol:    	$1,325.02
Total Cost of Suite Damage:	$124 maid service, cleaning and 	
				damages

The VAQ-129 was the host squadron at Tailhook 91 for all the Tactical 
Electronic Warfare squadrons. The suite was the first suite on the right 
side of the hallway that people would come to as they exited the main 
bank of elevators and turned right into the main part of the third floor 
hallway. The VAQ-129 suite was located in the area where the gauntlet 
and most crowded portion of the hallway started.

Prior to Tailhook 91, the VAQ-129 CO did not provide formal instructions 
or guidance to the squadron members other than posting two letters, 
both dated August 15, 1991, from CAPT Ludwig, the Tailhook 
Association President, on the "all officers read board." According to the 
squadron CO, the duty officers were instructed to check identification of 
anyone they thought might be under the legal drinking age. They were 
also instructed to confront and, if needed, escort anyone intoxicated or
unruly from the suite.

The suite coordinators and duty officers reported their duties consisted 
mostly of making certain there was an adequate supply of ice, food and 
beverages on hand at all times. The primary suite coordinator said he 
hired two waitresses from a Las Vegas restaurant to serve drinks on 
Friday and Saturday nights. He paid each woman $100 per night. One 
Navy commander described the waitresses he saw in the suite as being 
scantily dressed.

The primary suite coordinator estimated the VAQ-129 purchased and 
served between 16 and 20 kegs of beer and at least 4 cases of vodka. 
By most accounts, the suite was quiet on Thursday and Friday
nights. However, the party atmosphere increased on Saturday night.

Nineteen Navy and Marine Corps officers reported there was a strip 
show in the VAQ-129 suite. The majority of their accounts were 
consistent in detail. The witnesses stated there were two strippers
who performed on Saturday night at approximately 11:00 p.m. Most of 
the officers said the strippers solicited tips, which the men placed in the 
strippers' G-strings. By most accounts, the doors were closed and 
window shades were drawn during the strippers' performance. One of 
the suite coordinators recalled that one stripper wore a G-string and the 
other was eventually completely naked. Another suite coordinator said 
he paid the strippers approximately $100 each for their performance.

One officer recalled that some male officers danced with the strippers 
while another officer said one stripper accepted a tip by lifting her breast 
and allowing an officer to place his money there. Yet another officer 
recalled seeing males tipping the strippers and giving them "hugs."

Eight naval officers and one Hilton Hotel security officer stated there 
were streakers in the VAQ-129 suite. Although the witnesses specific 
recollections were not entirely consistent, the general version
was that on Saturday night four or five naked males ran across the pool 
patio area and into the suite. The men were being chased by Hilton 
Hotel security officers and Tailhook Association officials. People on the 
pool patio and in the suite intentionally hindered the security officers by 
bumping into them, blocking their path, and closing and locking the suite 
patio doors after the streakers entered the suite. As described elsewhere 
in this report, CAPT Ludwig reported that he found the streakers
hiding together in the bathroom of the VAQ-129 suite and he verbally 
reprimanded them but did not seek to identify the officers by name or 
specific squadron. Two other officers recalled they witnessed CAPT 
Ludwig also reprimanding the suite duty officers who were present at the 
time. Although few witnesses could or would identify any of the streakers, 
they were ultimately identified during the course of our investigation.

There were two reports that women were grabbed or pinched by males 
who were standing in the doorways of the suite. One person said that it 
occurred in the doorway leading to the third floor hallway while another 
person described it as taking place in the door leading to the pool patio. 
A Navy lieutenant admitted that he and three or four other males pinched 
women who were entering the VAQ-129 suite from the hallway. The 
lieutenant said that if a woman voiced objections he would
stop. He also told us he could not recall the faces or names of the other 
men who were taking part in that activity.

Another naval officer said at one point he saw some girls in the VAQ-129 
suite who appeared to him to be minors. With regard to consensual 
activity, one officer stated he witnessed a woman in the suite who asked 
a male to "zap" her. The male then "zapped" the woman on the buttocks. 
There was also one officer who said he witnessed an incident in the 
VAQ-129 suite in which a woman came up to a group of men who were 
standing around talking and reportedly pulled down the pants of at
least one of the men and bit him/them on the buttocks. The witness said 
the men laughed about the incident.


CARRIER AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SQUADRON ONE HUNDRED 
TEN (VAW-110), NAVAL AIR STATION MIRAMAR. SAN DIEGO, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	303
Commanding Officer:          	CDR Christopher John Remshak, USN 	
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(did not attend Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	VAW-120, VAW-114, VRC-30, 		
				CAEWWS
Squadron Members Attending:  	Approximately 50 from VAW-110 and 	
				an undetermined number from the 	
				contributing squadrons
Suite Financing:             	Contributions from squadron wardroom 
				funds totaling approximately $3,200
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 
				Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 
				9:00 a.m. to Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Beer and mixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$900
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$1,316

The VAW-110 suite had pictures of naval aircraft hanging on the walls of 
the suite; however, its featured attraction was the "leg shaving booth." 
The suite was arranged and organized for two purposes: as a place to 
socialize with other squadron members and also to entertain guests with 
the "leg shaving booth." According to one of the officers in charge of leg 
shaving, the booth was initiated at the 1990 symposium as a "scam" to 
attract guests to the suite. In conjunction with the 1991 leg shaving 
booth, there were reports of "belly shots" and displays of nudity in the 
suite. -1

The CO told us that prior to the symposium, in more than one all officers 
meeting, he discussed CAPT Ludwig's August 15, 1991 letter with the 
suite coordinators and other squadron members. The CO felt all the 
officers knew his position; the suite was to be run in a "respectable" 
manner and that he would not allow any disrespectful actions or 
activities toward females. Only two squadron members we interviewed, 
however, could recall attending any all officers meetings prior to the
convention where expected conduct was discussed.

In two separate interviews, the CO stated that prior to the symposium he 
was not aware that the suite would have a "leg shaving booth" as its 
entertainment. However, two squadron members provided
information that directly conflicted with the CO's statements. One 
member recalled that before leaving for Tailhook 91, the CO told his 
assembled officers that since the unit had women in its command, the 
leg shaving had to be kept above board. The other member stated he 
believed the CO was fully aware that leg shaving was planned.

According to the CO, the first time he became aware of the leg shaving 
was when he arrived in the suite on Thursday afternoon as the booth 
was being set up. The CO told us that after discovering what the booth 
was for, he immediately told one of the officers in charge of the booth that 
there would be no underage participants, leg shaving would be done by 
consent only, and only legs would be shaved. The two officers who 
administered the leg shaving told us that the CO never provided
them any such instructions. One of the suite coordinators also told us he 
was not aware of the CO giving any instructions to the two officers in 
charge of the booth. The primary officer in charge of the booth recalled 
that when he and the CO were introduced to each other, -2  the CO said 
"...I've heard a lot about you."

There were at least four instances of partial or complete nudity in the 
suite, most of which were related to the leg shaving. Three instances 
involved women exposing their breasts, while the fourth instance 
involved a woman removing all her clothing and having her pubic area 
shaved.

The CO and squadron attendees told us the suite was vandalized on 
Thursday night and, as a result, the door to the hallway was closed for 
the remainder of the symposium. The only access to the suite
was through the patio doors. Those squadron members who saw the 
vandalism stated that it consisted of graffiti painted on the walls, 
grenadine stained carpet and torn and scratched wallpaper. There
were words on the walls that appeared to be call signs and a squadron 
slogan. At least four squadron members suspected the culprits of the 
vandalism were members of the VFA-151 squadron at Miramar Naval Air 
Station, as the call signs and slogan were associated with that particular 
squadron.

Two civilian women told us that an older male, approximately 70 to 85 
years of age, was in the suite giving away stickers in the shape of Navy 
wings. The male told one of the women that if she wanted Navy wings, 
he would put them over her navel. She told him to put them near her 
shoulder instead. The second woman allowed the man to place the 
wings on her navel, and then gave the man the kiss that he requested in 
exchange for the wings.                       

Regarding the indecent assaults, one squadron member told us that 
while he was in the suite, he heard yelling and screaming coming from 
the hallway through the closed door. Another squadron member
recalled a woman coming into the suite and appearing to be upset. The 
squadron member attempted to ask her what was wrong, but she would 
not answer or speak with him.


AIR ANTISUBMARINE SQUADRON FORTY-ONE (VS-41 )
NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, SAN DIEGO, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	304
Commanding Officer:          	CDR Glenn A. Main, USN 
				(did not attend Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:          	CDR John William Winkler, USN 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	VS-21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 35, 	
				37, 38, 174, and 294;
				VQ-5 and 6
Squadron Members Attending:  	Unable to determine
Suite Financing:             	Squadron wardroom contributions 	
				totaling $5,050
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				1:00 a.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m.
 				to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 
				10:00 a.m. to Sunday, 1:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:        	Keg beer and Cubi Specials
Total Cost of Alcohol:         	$2,208
Total Cost of Suite Damage:     $257


The VS-41 suite was commonly referred to as the "Viking" suite or the 
S-3 "Hummer Hole." By most accounts, it was organized and 
administered as an entertainment type suite. The suite served
complimentary beverages and food to its guests. The suite coordinator 
and a Lockheed representative told us that Lockheed gave 
approximately 500 "Hook" T-shirts to squadron members or affiliates.

The suite coordinator told us 17 squadrons contributed money to the 
funding of the suite. He collected $5,050, which was used to pay for the 
cost of the suite rental ($800), two hostesses ($300), two stripper 
performances ($550), suite damage ($257), and the balance ($3,143) 
was for food, beer, rum, vodka and sodas. According to the suite 
coordinator, the east coast squadrons were responsible for providing 
duty officer assignments and security of the suite.

The CO told us that prior to Tailhook 91, he conducted a meeting at 
which he addressed the conduct he expected from his officers while at 
the convention. He read to the squadron members the August
15, 1991, letter issued by CAPT Ludwig and added his guidance 
regarding underage drinking, rowdiness, excessive drinking, and 
accountable conduct while in the suites.

The CO and the XO told us the suite's traditional form of entertainment at 
past Tailhook conventions had been strippers, and, in that regard, they 
were aware there would be strippers performing in the suite at the 
Tailhook 91. The CO stated he informed one of the suite coordinators the 
show was to be professional and above board with the doors closed and 
the curtains drawn.

The suite coordinator told us he hired two strippers to perform on Friday 
night. They performed for two shows: one 45-minute show from 9:15 to 
10:00 p.m. and another 1-hour 15-minute show from 10:15 to 11:30 p.m. 
One squadron member described the strippers as being very attractive 
and very young, approximately 17 years of age or younger. Three 
squadron members recalled they had to pay a $1 fee before they could 
enter the suite and see the show; that upset one squadron member 
because he had already contributed money for alcohol and would be 
denied access to the drinks because of the stripper performance if he did 
not pay the entrance fee. More than half the squadron members
indicated that the doors to the suite were locked during each 
performance; at least 10 Tailhook attendees, including the VS-41 XO, 
were unable to get into the suite to see the show because the doors 
were locked. One squadron member recalled all women present in the 
suite were requested to leave prior to the strip show.

The XO told us in addition to the CO's rules regarding the stripper, he 
also gave the suite coordinators two of his own rules: there would be no 
touching of the stripper, and no one would be allowed in the suite once 
the strip show had started. Information provided by eight squadron
members indicated that there was physical contact between the stripper 
and the audience. One squadron member recalled there were two strip 
acts, with an intermission where the strippers went into the suite 
bathroom while the suite was cleared for the next group of people 
coming in. During the first performance, a large group of aviators on the 
patio and in the hallway were clamoring to get into the suite. The same 
squadron member recalled that the strippers rubbed against the men in 
the suite and sat in their laps in a provocative manner attempting to elicit 
tips while the men touched the strippers' breasts, buttocks and pubic 
areas. The other seven witnesses who told us about the strippers 
recalled a variety of activities engaged in by the strippers and the 
audience. One witness said that if one of the officers tipped the stripper, 
she would come over, sit on his lap, and rub her breasts in his face. 
Another witness remembered seeing guys put rolled bills in their mouths, 
and the strippers retrieved the bills by pressing them between their 
breasts or by clenching them with their vagina. One witness identified a 
squadron member who laid on the floor, at least once, if not twice,
holding money in his mouth and touching the stripper's buttocks and 
vaginal area as she squatted over his face to retrieve the money with her 
vagina. When the squadron member was questioned about his
activity, he stated he had done that sort of thing in the past and would 
probably do it again in the future, but that he could not remember if he 
did it at Tailhook 91. Another witness recalled that a lieutenant 
commander started dancing with the stripper, hovering over her, touching 
and grabbing her hips. The stripper appeared irritated with the officer. 
One of the junior officers in the audience asked the lieutenant 
commander to get out of the way because he was blocking the junior 
officer's view of the stripper. The lieutenant commander "pulled rank" on 
the junior officer and nothing else was said. Shortly thereafter, a "chem 
light" -3  was broken, and the chemical inside the stick was handed to 
the lieutenant commander who then rubbed the chemical on the stripper. 
At least four witnesses recalled that the stripper appeared to have green 
glowing hand prints all over her body. When questioned about his 
behavior, the lieutenant commander stated that he "dressed down" the
junior officer for confronting him. He denied putting the chemical on the 
stripper's breasts, buttocks or pubic area and stated he put the chemical 
only on the stripper's shoulders and back.

One of the hostesses told us that the VS-41 suite was one of the most 
popular suites as it was known to "go through the most beer"; she opined 
that about 37 kegs of beer were consumed in the suite during the 3 days 
of the convention. The other hostess stated she was one of the poster 
girls for the squadron. She said a suite coordinator had taken 
photographs of her next to squadron aircraft, and the pictures were on 
display in the suite. She recalled that while serving drinks, various 
aviators told her about the gauntlet that would take place on Saturday 
evening. They described that the halls would  be lined with officers 
chanting and harassing women as they went down the hallway. Most of 
the  squadron members recalled that the two bartenders were scantily 
clad in bikinis, lacy bras or black  bras stuffed with dollar bills; however, 
no information was developed that indicated either hostess was 
assaulted in the gauntlet.

There were several instances of nudity displayed in the VS-41 suite in 
addition to the stripper performances. One witness recalled on Friday 
evening he entered the suite and observed three males walking around 
the room naked despite there being females present. Another witness 
told us that late Saturday night, six to seven male streakers came out of 
the VS-41 suite and ran through the patio. Preceding the streakers by a 
few moments were five or six women who appeared to be carrying the
streakers' clothing. Another display of nudity occurred when a woman 
who was wearing no bra removed her shirt to replace it with a Tailhook 
T-shirt. The XO told us he observed a female enter  the suite rest room, 
remove her blouse and bra, return to the suite area, display her breasts, 
and then exit the suite.

Regarding the gauntlet, three squadron members recalled that on 
Saturday evening while in the suite, they heard guys in the hallway 
banging on the walls and shouting "foul deck" and "clear deck." Another 
squadron member recalled he heard a loud commotion out in the 
hallway and, as he peered out the suite doorway to see what was going 
on, he saw males running down the hallway ducking into suites very 
quickly as if they were trying to clear the hall. He then saw two security 
guards assisting a female who was disrobed from her waist down. Yet 
another squadron member said he was with a woman in the hallway 
when she was grabbed all over her body. He attempted at the time to 
identify the individuals that grabbed her, but the victim did not want him 
to get involved. The female refused to be interviewed during our 
investigation.


NAVAL STRIKE WARFARE CENTER (NSWC)
NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, NV

Hilton Suite Number:            305
Commanding Officer:             CAPT David V. Park, USN (attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:              (did not attend Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:         None
Center Members Attending:       29
Suite Financing:                Initial voluntary contribution by attending 
				squadron members of $50 and an additional $20 
				after the convention
Hours of Operation:             Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to Friday, 3:00 a.m.; 
				Friday, 9:00 a.m.  to Saturday, 3:00 a.m.; 
				Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to Sunday, 3:00 a.m.; 
				alcohol was served from 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:         Keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:          $1,160
Total Cost of Suite Damage:     $138

The NSWC suite was referred to as the "Strike University" or "Strike U" 
suite as the mission of the  NSWC is to provide instruction and training 
on the planning and execution of naval air strikes. The CO told us the 
purpose of the suite was to afford those NSWC officers, civilian 
employees, and their guests with a place to meet and relax while at 
Tailhook 91. Although the suite did not offer any organized 
entertainment, it did feature videos of various aircraft and weapon 
systems.

Attending officers said that prior to Tailhook 91, they agreed, as in 
previous years, to sponsor a hospitality suite at the convention. It was 
further decided that duty officers would be present in the suite while it 
was in operation to ensure "calm conditions" and to minimize damage. 
Other officers explained that arrangements were also made to hire two 
civilian women from Fallon, NV, and San Francisco, CA, to act as 
bartenders during the afternoon and evening hours and to sell NSWC T-
shirts at the bar as a means of raising additional monies to support the 
suite. The NSWC attendees paid the women's transportation and lodging expenses 
while they were in Las Vegas in exchange for their bartending services. The 
CO told us that he gave instructions to the suite coordinator that the duty 
officers were not to allow any activity in the suite that would embarrass the 
Navy, the NSWC or  the CO. The NSWC officers stated they had a recollection 
of receiving instructions from the CO before departing for Tailhook 91. 
The CO informed us that while at the convention he frequented the suite 
to ensure the instructions were being followed. The CO acknowledged 
that he received CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991 regarding various 
problems at previous Tailhooks and told us he provided copies of the letter 
to the XO and the suite coordinator.

The CO said that, after returning from the convention, he spoke with the 
suite coordinator and duty officers and was assured that no questionable 
conduct occurred in the suite at Tailhook 91. The CO did tell us that 
during the course of the weekend several intoxicated aviators were 
asked to leave the suite.

Regarding the assaults that occurred at Tailhook 91, both bartenders 
explained that while in the suite they did not observe any improper 
conduct, but one stated that during Saturday evening a number of 
women entered the suite from the third floor hallway and complained 
about being grabbed by the aviators out in the hall. She described the 
women as being irritated and angry at what had happened  to them. We 
were told by NSWC officers that at some point on Saturday evening the 
entrance door to the hallway was closed and locked. Women entering the 
suite by way of the patio were warned not to enter the hallway. According 
to one of those NSWC officers, that was done so the women would not be 
subjected to the gauntlet.

Several Tailhook attendees told us that on Saturday evening there was 
one incident of sexual harassment in the suite. The incident involved 
verbal abuse in the form of sexual innuendos directed toward two female 
civilian guests. -4


FIGHTER SQUADRON 126 (VF-126)
NAVAL AIR STATION. MIRAMAR, CA

Hilton Suite Number:            306
Commander:                      CDR Peter C. Chisholm, USN 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:              (attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:         None
Squadron Members Attending:     20
Suite financing:                Voluntary payment of approximately 	
				$70 per attendee
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 12:00 noon to Friday, 4:00 a.m.; 
				Friday, 12:00 noon to Saturday, 4:00 a.m.; 
				Saturday, 12:00 noon to Sunday, 4:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$411
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$131 for carpet and sofa cleaning

The VF-126 suite, according to the CO, was booked to have a central 
and convenient meeting place available at the convention for the 
attending squadron members. The suite served as a "locator" so that 
other aviators at Tailhook 91 could locate the VF-126 squadron 
members in attendance. The suite also afforded the squadron attendees 
a place to store their luggage, change and shower while at
the convention. The CO further said that the suite did not offer any form of 
entertainment and only keg beer was available for consumption. No 
information to the contrary was developed during the investigation.

The CO told us that prior to Tailhook 91, he discussed hosting a 
hospitality suite at a squadron officers meeting. He also discussed the 
ground rules regarding the operation and use of the suite, as well as 
officer conduct in general. The CO acknowledged receiving CAPT 
Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991 regarding various problems at 
previous Tailhook conventions and had each officer attending
the convention read the letter. The XO confirmed that such issues were 
discussed at the all officers meeting.

One squadron member in attendance, a female naval officer, was the 
victim of an assault on Saturday evening, September 7, 1992, in the 
gauntlet. The assault occurred as the officer approached the VF-126 
hospitality suite from the third floor hallway. The incident was reported to 
the XO who subsequently contacted a Hilton Hotel security officer and 
asked if additional security officers could be stationed on the third floor. 
After the convention, the XO personally contacted CAPT Ludwig and
notified him of the assault. He further suggested to the victim that she file 
a formal complaint with the Tailhook Association.

No derogatory information was developed regarding specific activities 
within the suite.


ATTACK SQUADRON 128 (VA-128)
NAVAL AIR STATION, WHIDBEY ISLAND,  OAK HARBOR, WA

Hilton Suite Number:            307
Commanding Officer:             CAPT Bernis H. Bailey, USN 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:              (did not attend Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:         VA-128, VA-155, VA-165, VA-52, VA-145 
				and VA-196
Squadron Members Attending:  	Approximately 50 from VA-128
Suite Financing:             	Individual assessments of $40 from 135 
				participating squadron members
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to Friday, 2:00 a.m.; 
				Friday, 11:00 a.m. to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Frozen margaritas and draft beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$895.13 for beer; $1,685.25 for margarita 
				machine rental, mix and tequila; 
				$2,580.38 total
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$124.55 for cleaning charges; $500 for 
				carpet replacement

In sponsoring the administrative suite, the VA-128 squadron served as 
the Tailhook 91 host for all the Navy A-6 Intruder attack squadrons. The 
two suite coordinators and eight suite duty officers reported that the 
conduct in the VA-128 suite was professional and the decorum in 
accordance with strict instructions of the squadron CO.

Investigation disclosed that when CAPT Bailey took command of the VA-
128 in August 1991, a decision had already been made that the 
squadron would host an administrative suite at Tailhook 91. The primary 
suite coordinator said the new CO was not in favor of hosting the suite 
but went along since the decision had already been made to do so. The 
other suite coordinator recalled that the CO
said the VA-128 would not hire any women to serve drinks in the suite.

The VA-128 CO held an all officers meeting on Monday, September 2, 
1991, in which he addressed appropriate behavior and the general 
decorum in the suite. One Marine Corps captain, who served as a duty 
officer, recalled that the CO told the squadron members to cancel any 
strip shows or similar entertainment they may have planned for the suite. 
The Marine captain also recalled that was not well received by some of 
the men in the squadron.

The CO was very specific and strict in his rules and conditions for the 
operation of the suite. He directed that the guidelines be written and 
posted in the squadron ready room prior to Tailhook 91. The written 
guidelines were also posted in the suite during Tailhook 91. The written 
guidelines covered the responsibilities of the duty officers, including 
security and safety in the suite, and specifically stated there would be "no 
lewd or lascivious acts."

The suite was funded by collecting $40 from each of the VA-128 and 
other A-6 squadron members who indicated they were planning to 
attend. There were a total of 135 persons from mostly west coast A-6 
squadrons who were on record as contributors. That included 47 VA-128 
squadron members. According to CAPT Bailey, there were 54 VA-128 
squadron members listed on the manifest for a C-9 flight from Whidbey 
Island to Las Vegas for Tailhook 91. An invitation was extended to the 
east coast A-6 squadrons as well.

The suite served beer, frozen margaritas, and on Friday evening served 
a 6-foot hoagie sandwich. There was no entertainment provided in the 
suite. Much of the furniture was removed from the suite and there were 
posters of A-6 aircraft on the walls. Some officers said they used the 
suite as a safe place to temporarily stow their belongings. One duty 
officer commented that most people came into the suite to get a drink 
and then would quickly leave because there was no place to sit down. 
Two of the duty officers described the atmosphere inside the suite as "boring." 
Of the many other persons who said they visited the VA-128 suite, there 
were no particularly remarkable or noteworthy comments about the 
activity in the suite. One Navy lieutenant recalled that he saw a female 
bartender in the VA-128 suite who wore a vest with no shirt underneath. 
That account was uncorroborated.

Some of the VA-128 squadron members wore caps with a replica of an 
A-6 Intruder in-flight refueling probe in front. The caps were also 
reportedly sold in the suite. One civilian described the refueling probe 
replica as being black with a grey tip, and about 6 to 8 inches long. (See 
Figure 17)

Figure 17.  A-6 Intruder Refueling Probe Cap
[Unavailable due to graphics limitations.]

One VA-128 squadron member said that at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday 
he witnessed a woman walk into the suite, lift her shirt, and invite men to 
place zappers (squadron stickers) on her bare breasts. If the men had no 
zappers, she invited them to rearrange the zappers already placed on 
her breasts.  The officer recalled that five or six men accepted the 
woman's invitation. The suite coordinator stated that as soon as he 
became aware of that activity, he asked the woman to leave.

Investigation disclosed that the VA-128 suite was located in the area of 
the hallway where the gauntlet activity ended. Ten naval officers and one 
Hilton Hotel security officer gave descriptions of being in the hallway in 
the vicinity of the VA-128 suite when they witnessed women exiting the 
gauntlet. Two other naval officers said that while they were in the suite 
they heard chanting and pounding on the walls coming from the hallway. 
One of the suite coordinators said that he occasionally closed the
suite/hallway door to cut down on the noise when it became too loud.

Three gauntlet victims, two civilians and LT Paula Coughlin, stated they 
went into the VA-128 suite immediately after they were assaulted in the 
gauntlet. In each case, there were male naval officers who confirmed the 
victims came into the suite on Saturday night and that they saw or spoke 
with the women who appeared to be upset or stated they had been 
assaulted in the gauntlet.

One female naval officer, who was not herself assaulted in the gauntlet, 
reported she was in the A-6 suite when a senior officer, whom she could 
not further identify, suggested that she join the activities in the hallway. 
She said that the comment infuriated her because the officer was 
condoning what was going on in the hallway.

The primary suite coordinator said he was absolutely certain that none of 
the CO's directions or orders were violated during Tailhook 91. The 
results of our investigation were consistent with that statement insofar as 
the activities in the suite. However, investigation disclosed that individual 
VA-128 squadron members engaged in improper conduct elsewhere in 
the Hilton Hotel.

Three individuals reported that VA-128 squadron members rented a 
suite or suites in the Hilton Hotel, described variously as being on the 
sixth, seventh and/or eighth floors. The room(s) were used by squadron 
members for lodging and, by one account, as a hospitality suite. One 
naval officer said he attended a private bachelor's party for a VA-128 
squadron member in one of those rooms on Friday night. He estimated 
there were about 20 to 30 VA-128 squadron members in attendance at 
the bachelor party and there were 2 female strippers performing. He 
recalled there were some verbal altercations between the strippers and 
the squadron members because the women wanted better tips and the crowd 
did not want to pay them more money.

Another Marine officer, a VA-128 squadron member, said he attended a 
bachelor party for another squadron member on Saturday night. He said 
the party was held in a private room on the seventh floor and that a 
stripper performed. He said when the stripper arrived at about 9:30 p.m. 
or 10:00 p.m., he made arrangements with the stripper to perform oral 
sex on the bachelor for whom the party was being held after the strip 
show ended. The Marine officer said he collected about $25 from each
attendee and gave the stripper about $150 to perform fellatio. After the 
strip show ended, everyone left except for the stripper and the guest of 
honor. The Marine officer left the bachelor party and went to the VA-128 
suite in room 307. After about 30 minutes the stripper and the bachelor 
came into the VA-128 suite also. The Marine said the bachelor told him 
the stripper had performed fellatio on him.


MARINE CORPS TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON 3 
(VMFP-3)
DEACTIVATED 1990

Hilton Suite Number:          	308
Commanding Officer:          	N/A
Executive Officer:           	N/A
Suite Coordinators:        	Capt David Prudhomme, USMC
Contributing Squadrons:       	None
Squadron Members Attending:  	Unable to determine
Suite Financing:             	Proceeds from the sale of the squadron 
				automobile amounting to $3,000; proceeds 
				from the sale of squadron T-shirts; and 
				a $50 charge to all former squadron members 
				attending Tailhook
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 11:00 p.m. to Friday, 2:00 a.m.;
				Friday, 11:00 p.m. to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; 
				Saturday, 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Beer, "Rhino Spunk" (rum, Kahlua, milk/cream 
				and ice), and rum and Coke
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	Unable to determine
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$530, to include damage to suite and carpet
 				cleaning

The VMFP-3 suite was called the "Rhino" room or suite, as the 
rhinoceros was the squadron mascot.  In addition, we were told that 
former squadron members in attendance at Tailhook 91 could be 
identified as such as they wore headgear in the form of a rhinoceros 
horn at various times throughout the weekend. (See Figures 18 and 19--
next two pages)

By most accounts, the suite was organized and administered as an 
entertainment suite. Although the VMFP-3 squadron was deactivated in 
1990, former squadron members sponsored the suite at Tailhook 91. 
Since the squadron had been deactivated, no squadron commander or 
XO was present at the convention. However, the former CO and XO (both 
active duty) did attend Tailhook 91. They told us they participated in the 
planning of the hospitality suite and visited the suite throughout
the weekend of the convention.

Figure 18. Rhino Suite Attendees, Some Wearing Rhino Headgear
[Unavailable due to graphics limitations.]

Suite activities centered around a hand painted mural of a rhinoceros 
(approximately 5' x 8') to which was affixed a dildo rigged by squadron 
members for use as a drink dispensing mechanism. The dildo
dispensed an alcoholic based liquid referred to as "Rhino Spunk" by 
attendees. A squadron member acted as bartender and operated the 
dispensing machine. By way of background, witnesses told us
that the original "Rhino" mascot was made of paper mache' and was 
displayed by the squadron at the 1989 and 1990 Tailhook conventions. 
The original "Rhino" also had a large phallus device from which drinks 
were dispensed. Women received a drink by kissing the paper mache 
"Rhino" on the lips.

As the original "Rhino" had been given to a bar in Pensacola, FL, after 
the Tailhook 90 convention a decision was made by a number of former 
senior and junior officers to create a new mascot (the mural) for Tailhook 
91. During Tailhook 91, some women would kiss, suck or stroke the dildo 
to obtain a drink.

A number of aviators told us that while in the suite they observed a "deep 
throat" contest during which women would simulate performing oral sex 
on the dildo. The crowd would chant "beat the line...beat the line." The 
chant referred to a line that was placed in the dildo to indicate how much
of the dildo the previous woman was able to take into her mouth.

Figure 19. Aviator Wearing Rhino headgear
[Unavailable to graphics limitations]

Former squadron members stated that women were not forced, coerced 
or intimidated in any way to drink from the dildo. However, many 
witnesses informed us that women were certainly encouraged
to drink from the "Rhino" and various organized chants were used to 
accomplish that such as "kiss the Rhino," "do the Rhino," or "suck the 
Rhino." Women's names were also used in the chants. If a woman drank 
from the "Rhino" or refused to drink, she would be cheered or booed 
accordingly by the crowd. A number of women told us they found the 
behavior to he unnerving. One Navy commander stated he was 
concerned that women were being coerced by former squadron 
members into drinking from the "Rhino." He approached one Marine who 
was attempting to get women to enter the suite from the third floor patio 
area of the Hilton. The commander instructed him to be careful and not to 
force any women into the suite or to intimidate them into drinking from 
the dildo. The commander further stated that the Marine just "blew him 
off."

During the course of our investigation, five women told us that on 
entering the suite, they were physically restrained from leaving. During 
one of those incidents, a woman noticed that an unknown individual was 
behind the mural. That individual removed the dildo and replaced it with 
his exposed penis. Another woman explained that she was escorted 
through the suite to the mural and as the crowd started to chant her 
name she was surrounded. An individual whom she believed to be an
aviator grabbed her arms. She perceived that she would be prevented 
from leaving until she drank from the rhinoceros' penis. She was 
eventually escorted from the suite by a friend and another aviator not 
associated with the suite. The third woman, whose husband was an 
aviator, told us of being grabbed in the hallway, dragged into the suite 
and verbally harassed when she refused to drink from the Rhino. The 
fourth woman, a naval officer, described being shoved and pushed up to 
the mural whereupon her head was forced toward the dildo.

The fifth woman, a student from UNLV, entered the suite in order to get 
out of the hallway. Once inside the suite, she was grabbed and pushed 
up to the mural by four aviators. She screamed and struggled and was 
eventually escorted from the suite by her friends from whom she had 
been separated upon first entering the suite.

Other activities reported to have taken place in the suite included women 
exposing their breasts to obtain squadron T-shirts. Additional incidents 
that were detailed by witnesses included "mooning," consensual sex, 
and one episode in which a former squadron member had his pants 
pulled down by two women visitors to the suite. Reportedly, men who 
were wearing "Rhino" horns and believed to be aviators were "butting" 
women with their horns in the third floor hallway on Saturday evening.


COMMANDER NAVAL AIR RESERVE FORCE (COMNAVAIRRESFOR)
NEW ORLEANS, LA

Hilton Suite Number:          	310
Commander:                    	CAPT John P. Hazelrig, USN 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Chief of Staff:               	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:       	Carrier Air Wing Reserve 30 		
				(CVWR-30)
Squadron Members Attending:   	6 CVWR staff officers and an unknown 	
				number of squadron officers
Suite Financing:              	Voluntary payment of approximately 	
				$10 per CVWR-30 attendee
Hours of Operation:           	Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight; 	
				Friday, 2:00 p.m. to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; 
				Saturday, 2:00 p.m. to Sunday, 		
				2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:       	Keg beer and mixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:        	$750
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$81.66 for carpet cleaning


The COMNAVAIRRESFOR was the host command for the suite. The 
CVWR-30, located at NAS Miramar, CA, and its seven subordinate 
squadrons were responsible for funding and administering
the suite at Tailhook 91. According to one suite coordinator, those 
responsibilities alternated every other year between his wing, CVWR-30, 
and the east coast Reserve wing, CVWR-20. The wing commander told 
us the primary purpose of the suite was to afford all Reserve officers 
attending Tailhook 91 with a place to meet and relax. In addition, the 
suite served as an informal recruiting center for the Navy Reserve 
program. The wing commander also told us the suite was further used
to "play up" the 75th anniversary of the Naval Reserve. The wing 
commander stated that keg beer, mixed and soft drinks were served in 
the suite. No "specialty" drinks were served and no entertainment was 
sponsored in the suite. No information to the contrary was developed 
during the investigation

The wing commander told us that prior to Tailhook 91, he had a specific 
recollection of discussing suite administration and conduct during at 
least three staff meetings. During our inter-views of staff officers and 
squadron members, a number of them confirmed receiving such 
instructions. Although, the wing commander could not recall receiving 
CAPT Ludwig's letter regarding behavior at Tailhook 91, at least one of 
the suite coordinators recalled seeing the letter. He further noted that the 
contents of the letter were discussed with the wing squadron 
commanders. The wing commander informed us that he attended 
Tailhook 91 because his wing was hosting the hospitality suite and one 
of wing squadrons was receiving an award at the convention.

No derogatory information was developed regarding specific activities in 
the COMNAVAIRRESFOR suite.


HELICOPTER ANTISUBMARINE SQUADRON ONE (HS-1 )
NAVAL AIR STATION, JACKSONVILLE, FL

Hilton Suite Number:         	315
Commanding Officer:          	CAPT Christopher Warren Cole, USN 	
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	HS-2 through HS-12, HS-14, 15, 17, 75 
				& 85
Squadron Members Attending:  	Unable to determine
Suite Financing:             	Contributions of $100 from stateside 	
				squadrons; contributions of $50 from 	
				overseas squadrons
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 12:00 noon to Friday, 2:00 	
				a.m.; Friday, 12:00 noon to Saturday, 	
				2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 12:00 noon to 	
				Sunday,  2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Beer and frozen margaritas
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$500
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$470

The HS-1 suite functioned as a meeting place for the squadron members 
to see old friends and promote the naval helicopter community. Several 
squadron members told us that, traditionally, helicopter units did not 
attend Tailhook conventions, and having a hospitality suite was a means 
to get the helicopter community better integrated with the rest of the 
naval aviation community. Squadron members told us they felt it was 
important to portray a positive image and there were no "gimmicks"
or unusual forms of entertainment in the suite.

By several accounts, the HS-1 suite was described as a "safe haven" 
and appeared to some people to be the most calm of all the suites. 
Several females had taken "refuge" in the suite to get out of the
third floor hallway. Occasionally, people came into the suite to get 
promotional cards or helicopter posters signed by the squadron 
members.

The CO and another squadron member told us that on Friday and 
Saturday afternoons, a group of 6 to 15 females in their 30's and 40's 
performed an unsolicited aerobics routine similar to a Jane Fonda
workout. The group of women who said they were from Arizona provided 
their own music and before they left they thanked everyone for watching 
their routine. One squadron member recalled that over the course of 
Saturday, the women wore "upgraded" outfits as they continued to visit 
the suite. They started out wearing aerobics outfits, later changed to 
jeans and, in the evening, returned to the third floor wearing dresses. 
During their later visits at 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Sunday
morning, the women -5  "package checked" some of the men and put 
chemically lighted glow sticks down the men's shorts.

In spite of the aforementioned contention regarding the lack of 
inappropriate activity in the suite, our  investigation did disclose that 
squadron members may have been involved in at least one major             
assault. By the accounts of most squadron members, the "hooping [sic], 
hollering, and yelling" in the hallway could be easily heard from within 
the suite. The door to the suite was eventually closed   because of the 
loud noise coming from the hallway. Most squadron members were 
aware of the "gauntlet" activities in the hallway, and several of the 
squadron members tried to help women by encouraging them not to go 
down the hallway. However, during the course of our investigation,
information was developed that indicated a female -6 who was 
underage, and was known to be underage by some of the squadron 
members, spent some time in the suite dancing and conversing  with 
several squadron members. No one attempted to prevent her from 
obtaining alcohol and she became severely intoxicated. Squadron 
members told us that to avoid embarrassing the squadron or
placing responsibility for her intoxication on its members, the woman 
was removed from the suite and placed against the hallway wall 
opposite the suite by squadron members who were aware of the
existence of the gauntlet and the potential consequences of the woman 
being placed in the hallway. One squadron member told us that after he 
and others placed the woman in the hallway, they again  shut the door to 
the suite. The woman was assaulted in the gauntlet.                                      

Other information and evidence developed through our investigation 
indicated that one of the squadron members videotaped other members 
hanging a stolen VF-I 14 squadron flag on the wall of the HS-1 suite and 
then "mooning" the camcorder.


FIGHTER SQUADRON 1 (VF-1)                                    
NAVAL AIR STATION, MIRAMAR, CA

Hilton Suite Number:           316
Commanding Officer:            CDR Steven C. Gaylor, USN 
			       (attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:             (attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:        None
Squadron Members Attending:    24                                          
Suite Financing:               Voluntary payment of $70 per attendee   
Hours of Operation:            Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight; 	
			       Friday, 5:00 p.m. to  12:00 midnight; 	
			       Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  
Type of Alcohol Served:        Keg beer and limited mixed drinks                
Total Cost of Alcohol:         $88                             
Total Cost of Suite Damage:    $70 for carpet cleaning

The VF-1 suite, by most accounts, was intended to afford squadron 
attendees and their guests a central and convenient meeting location, as 
well as a place to relax while at the convention. According to squadron 
members, it was not an "entertainment" type suite and only limited 
quantities of alcohol and food were available for consumption. No 
information to the contrary was developed during the investigation.

The CO and XO told us the decision to host the suite as well as the 
arrangements for operating the suite, duty officer assignments and 
general behavior requirements for those members participating in
Tailhook 91 were discussed at an officers meeting at the squadron prior 
to the convention. That information was basically confirmed by a number 
of officers during our interviews of squadron members at the Naval Air 
Station, Miramar, however, not all the officers recalled receiving such
instructions relative to their conduct at the convention. The CO 
acknowledged receiving CAPT LudwigÕs letter of August 15, 1991 
regarding various problems at previous Tailhook conventions. The CO 
stated that he attended Tailhook 91 specifically to ensure there were no 
such problems associated with the operation of the VF-1 suite.

With respect to the hours of operation of the suite on Saturday evening, 
September 7, 1991, the CO noted that he "closed" the suite at 
approximately 6:00 p.m. after finding the suite unattended by the
duty officer. This information was confirmed, in other interviews, although 
the time of closure as reflected in the interviews ranged from 6:00 p.m. to 
10:00 p.m.

No derogatory information was developed regarding specific activities 
within the suite. However, one photograph provided during the 
investigation and believed to have been taken in the VF-1 suite on
Saturday evening depicts two males assisting two females in exposing 
themselves. Specifically, one officer is shown pulling down a woman's 
tube top blouse, thus exposing her bare breasts. The second officer is 
shown lifting the other woman's dress, exposing her buttocks and bikini 
panties. All four people depicted in the photograph are seen smiling 
while posing for the picture. The two males have been identified as Navy 
officers, but were not members of the VF-1 squadron. When
interviewed, the two officers told us that they did not recall engaging in 
the activity shown in the photograph and attributed their lack of recall to 
having been intoxicated.                      


MARINE ALL WEATHER FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 12
1 (VMFA(AW)-l 21 ) MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, EL TORO, CA

Hilton Suite Number:            318
Commanding Officer:            	LTC Stephen F. Mugg, USMC 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:             	(did not attend Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:         VMFA(AW)-121 and VMFA(AW)-314
Squadron Members Attending:     25
Suite Financing:              	Money deposited in Officers' Fund
Hours of Operation:             Friday, 12:00 noon to Saturday, 
				4:00 a.m.; Saturday, 12:00 noon to 	
				Sunday, 3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:         Bloody Marys in the a.m., beer and 	
				margaritas in the p.m.
Total Cost of Alcohol:          Beer total $655; liquor and food totals 	
				$782
Total Cost of Suite Damage:     No damage; cleaning charge of $76

The VMFA-121 suite, by most accounts, served as a central meeting 
place for the squadron attendees. The only entertainment provided in the 
suite were videos of the Gulf war with F-18 aircraft shooting rockets.

The CO stated that 6 weeks prior to the convention, he held an all 
officers meeting to "talk up" the convention and give instructions to the 
attendees regarding their conduct there. He circulated the August 15, 
1991 letter from CAPT Ludwig regarding the convention and reiterated to 
his squadron members that there would be "no gauntlet and no stupid 
stuff." He instructed them to ensure that refreshments, condition of the 
suite and squadron members' property were appropriately maintained.

According to the CO, the mascot of VMFA(AW)-121 is a green knight. On 
Friday night, a 4-feet high sheet metal statue of a green knight was used 
to block open the door to the suite. On Saturday night, to attract attention 
to the suite, the "green knight" was endowed with a rubber dildo, which 
was then  modified to dispense margaritas. The CO told us that the dildo 
on the "green knight" was not offensive nor harmful to anyone and, in 
fact, caused more people to come through the suite. The CO told us that 
if the dildo had been offensive to anyone, he would have told those 
individuals to leave the suite rather than remove the dildo. The dildo was 
described by most Tailhook attendees who saw the "green knight" as "no 
big deal" and not offensive in nature.

The CO stated he would not let people put their mouths on the dildo to 
receive drinks because that would have violated health regulations. 
However, military and civilian Tailhook attendees who were
interviewed, stated people did, in fact, put their mouths on the dildo to 
receive drinks. One Marine attendee stated that people were drinking 
directly from the dildo, while a Navy attendee said he watched a woman 
massage the dildo to obtain a drink. Two civilian attendees witnessed 
people sucking on the dildo, some of whom while down on their hands 
and knees. A Navy attendee noted that at some point on Saturday night, 
the dildo was covered with a condom.

The CO and two former squadron members told us the concept of the 
"green knight" dildo originated with a former squadron member's wife. In 
1988 or 1989, while the former squadron member was on
a long term cruise, his wife was presented with a dildo as a gag gift 
during a squadron wives club meeting. When the squadron member 
returned from the cruise, his wife gave him the dildo and he,
in turn, gave it to the squadron so it could be placed on the "green 
knight."

No one that we interviewed reported seeing any strippers in the 
VMFA(AW)-121 suite. However, the NIS interviewed at least six officers 
who reported that they personally observed or heard of stripper(s) in the 
suite. Four of those officers recalled that it was on Friday night that they
specifically saw the stripper(s).

Information provided by one officer indicated that one squadron member 
was with a woman in the hallway when she was assaulted in the 
gauntlet. While the woman was being grabbed, swatted on the
buttocks and disrobed, the VMFA(AW)-121 squadron member was 
encouraging her to continue on through the crowd. When the woman got 
to the end of the gauntlet, she was dropped on the floor wearing just her 
brassiere -7 and panties. The VMFA(AW)-121 squadron member and 
others in the hallway "dashed" into the suites as security guards came to 
the woman's rescue.


FIGHTER SQUADRON FlFTY-ONE (VF-51)
MIRAMAR NAVAL AIR STATlON, SAN DIEGO, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	319
Commanding Officer:          	CDR Thomas George Sobieck, USN 	
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	None
Squadron Members Attending:  	25
Suite Financing:             	Individual assessments of $25 and 	
				wardroom funds of $100
Hours of Operation:          	Open to squadron personnel 24 Hours,	 
				Thursday - Saturday  
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Beer, wine and liquor
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$200
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	None

Investigation disclosed that the VF-51 administrative suite served as a 
central meeting place for squadron members. It was not an open door 
hospitality suite like many of the others. The suite was located at the 
extreme far end of the third floor hallway away from where the majority of 
the gauntlet-related assaults occurred.

The only entertainment provided in the suite was a bachelor party for 
one of the squadron members where two strippers performed on Friday 
night. By most accounts, the party was a closed door event
for only VF-51 members and friends of the bachelor. There were 
approximately 30 people in attendance. One civilian Tailhook attendee 
recalled trying to enter the suite but the door was locked; behind the door 
was an unidentified male who was preventing the entry of any uninvited 
guests.

The squadron member in charge of hiring the strippers said he paid the 
strippers $150 to $200 for the performance. The strippers wore G-strings 
and only removed their tops. One squadron member told us the strippers 
removed the bachelor's clothing, to include his underwear, which 
embarrassed the  bachelor Two other squadron members recalled that 
the strippers attempted to remove the bachelor's underwear, but he 
resisted. Also, a former squadron member told us that prior to the 
strippers' performance as a joke, he paid one of the strippers $20 to put 
VF-126 stickers on each breast so they would be visible for all the VF-51 
squadron members to see when she removed her clothes.

By the accounts of all VF-51 members interviewed, there was no 
touching of the stripper by anyone in the audience. However, information 
to the contrary was provided by a witness not connected with
VF-51. The witness was a naval officer and a friend of the bachelor. The 
witness indicated that the bachelor laid on the floor with dollar bills in his 
mouth and was stripped down to his underwear while the women were 
dancing; the bachelor then placed money inside his underwear, and the 
women retrieved it. Other details provided by the witness indicated that 
the witness's recollection was quite vivid. It should be noted that detailed 
information was not provided by the VF-51 squadron members, and that 
the witness providing the information was interviewed at a different 
location approximately two months after the squadron members were 
interviewed.


MARINE ALL WEATHER FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 24
2 (VMFA(AW)-242)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION EL TORO, SANTA ANA, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	320
Commander:                   	LTC Daniel Driscoll, USMC 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:          	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:    	None
Squadron Members Attending:  	17
Suite Financing:             	$60 individual assessment
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				1:00 a.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m.
                             	to Saturday, 1:00 a.m.; Saturday, 
				3:00 p.m. to Sunday, 1:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Draft beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	Unable to determine
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$69.50 for standard carpet/sofa 		
				cleaning bill

The VMFA(AW)-242 hosted the hospitality suite as a place for the 
squadron members, commonly called the "Bats," to meet and relax. The 
only entertainment that the suite sponsored for the public
were videos of F-18 Hornet flights. On all three nights of the symposium, 
there were "private" parties for squadron members during which 
strippers performed.

The CO told us that prior to the symposium, he held two all officers 
meetings during which he briefed the squadron officers on what he 
expected from them concerning their conduct and deportment.  He used 
the August 15, 1991 letter from CAPT Ludwig as a guide to instruct the
officers there would be no minors or intoxicated officers allowed in the 
suite and offensive behavior or "gang mentality" would not be tolerated.

The CO stated he had numerous meetings with the XO concerning the 
operation of the suite. The XO told us that he appointed duty officers to 
keep order in the suite at all times. Through interviews of
several squadron members, we were able to determine that the 
responsibilities of the suite duty officers were to "police" the suite. ensure 
there was no damage to the suite itself and maintain general order.

The CO and XO told us that prior to the symposium they granted 
permission to the junior officers to host a bachelor party in the suite. The 
bachelor party included the hiring of professional strippers. The CO said 
that he saw nothing wrong with having a private party in the suite as long 
as it did not include any "sex acts."

The suite coordinator told us that he was tasked by the XO with providing 
the entertainment, including a stripper, for the bachelor party. He located 
a stripper in an advertisement of erotic dance companies. On Thursday 
night the stripper who was to perform at the bachelor party gave a 
preview performance to several squadron members in the suite. Some of 
the junior officers present for the preview unsuccessfully attempted to 
procure oral sex for the XO. Neither the stripper nor the XO complied. 
After the preview, the stripper presented her ground rules on how the 
men in attendance at the Friday night bachelor party should conduct 
themselves. According to the suite coordinator, the stripper said she 
would dance in her panties; no one would be allowed to touch her 
breasts, groin area, or buttocks; she was to be paid $150 for dancing; 
and she would leave at any time she became uncomfortable. The suite 
coordinator asked her to bring a second "dancer" with her on Friday 
night since there would be two bachelors for which the party was being 
held. On Friday night, two strippers performed.

According to those persons attending the Friday night performance, a 
crowd of between 40 and 70 people was present. By most accounts, the 
doors were shut and the curtains were drawn. The strippers began their 
performance at about 9:00 p.m., which lasted approximately 45 minutes 
to 1 hour. The two strippers performed by completely undressing 
themselves, undressing the two bachelors down to their shorts, rubbing 
their bodies against the bachelors, and collecting tips from the
onlookers. The bachelors laid down on the floor between the strippers' 
legs and held dollar bills in their mouths; the strippers picked up the bills 
with various parts of their bodies. Money was collected from the crowd to 
purchase sex for the bachelors, however, our investigation failed to    
substantiate any related sex acts.                                             

For Saturday night, the suite coordinator arranged another stripper 
performance by a different dancer than the prior two nights. One of the 
squadron officers told us that to "liven up the party," he laid down on the 
floor below the stripper and between her legs. He and other squadron 
members placed   bills on various locations of his body to include 
between his teeth, in his mouth, in his nose, and in his zipper/crotch 
area; the stripper picked them up with her buttocks, crotch and hands, 
just as the strippers had done on Friday night. In addition to the "tips," the 
stripper was paid a $150 fee. We  obtained candid photographs of 
portions of the performance which includes pictures wherein the XO         
and other officers are shown having nonsexual physical contact with the 
stripper.

Through interviews of persons who attended the Friday and Saturday 
night performances, we obtained information that directly conflicted with 
the CO's testimony regarding the party. According to the CO, his orders 
were that no one was allowed to attend the party who was not a member 
of the squadron, however, we interviewed several attendees of the 
parties who were neither former nor  current squadron members. 
Interviews of several squadron members confirmed that the CO of the        
Marine Aircraft Group 11 was also present during the stripper 
performances.

During the interview process, it became evident that the squadron 
members were not being  completely candid with investigators.


AIR TEST AND EVALUATION SQUADRON FIVE (VX-5)
NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER. CHINA LAKE, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	354
Commanding Officer:          	CAPT R. Kellet, USN (did not attend 	
				Tailhook 91)
				CAPT Garth A. Van Sickle, USN 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
				NOTE: CAPT Kellet was the CO of 
				VX-5 at the time of Tailhook 91. CAPT 	
				Van Sickle took command of VX-5 in 	
				late September 1991, several weeks 	
				after the Tailhook 91 symposium .
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	VX-5
Squadron Members Attending:  	Approximately 30
Suite Financing:            	Individual assessment of wardroom 	
				funds.
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Friday, 10:00 p.m. to 		
				Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 
				10:00 p.m. to Sunday, 2:00 a.m.; 		
				Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$719
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$63 cleaning charge

Investigation disclosed that the VX-5 administrative suite was, by all 
accounts, managed professionally and operated with decorum. The suite 
served as a central meeting place for squadron members and had a 
quiet, uncrowded atmosphere where people could talk and relax. The 
VX-5 suite was on the far end of the third floor hallway from the other 
hospitality suites. The location is on the other side of the elevators and at 
the extreme far end of the crowded portion of the hallway away
from where the gauntlet activity occurred.

The only alcoholic beverage served in the VX-5 suite was beer. The suite 
was popular because it showed videotapes of aircraft flight operations, to 
include footage of Operation Desert Storm and aircraft testing. By many 
accounts, the pool patio area just outside the VX-5 suite was a popular
gathering place because it was relatively uncrowded and convenient to 
obtain beer in the VX-5 suite.

CAPT Van Sickle, the CO, stated that prior to Tailhook 91, the VX-5 
squadron members were instructed they were not to drink while 
assigned as suite duty officers. They were also instructed to
keep the suite clean and stocked with food and beverages, to guard 
against rowdy behavior, and not to serve alcohol to minors. The CO 
advised that CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991, was
referenced in passing the instructions to the squadron members. The 
interviews of the squadron members generally corroborated the 
information.

There was no derogatory information developed regarding specific 
activities within the suite.


MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK TRAINING SQUADRON 101 (VMFAT-101)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION EL TORO, SANTA ANA, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	355
Commanding Officer:          	COL George C. Tullos, USMC 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	VMFAT-101
Squadron Members Attending:  	Approximately 50
Suite financing:              	Individual assessments of VMFAT-101 	
				officers
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday 2 p.m. to Friday 2 a.m.; Friday 
				2 p.m. to Saturday 2 a.m.; Saturday 
				2 p.m. to Sunday 2 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Draft beer and hard liquor mixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$600
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	Unable to determine; charges 		
				assessed for cleaning only; no  		
				damages reported

The VMFAT-101 suite was located in a remote area from the main, 
crowded area of the third floor hallway. Investigation disclosed there was 
no inappropriate entertainment sponsored by the squadron.
By most accounts, the atmosphere in the suite was subdued and 
unremarkable. The suite had beer and hard liquor mixed drinks, but did 
not serve any specialty drinks.

The VMFAT-101 CO stated that prior to Tailhook 91 he instructed his 
squadron as to their expected conduct at the convention and cited CAPT 
Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991. The CO said he told his subordinate 
officers they were to act appropriately as they would in any social setting 
or military event. The CO also told us he instructed the suite duty officers 
and other squadron members they were not to get involved in drinking 
contests or allow underage drinking. Further, they were told not
to allow any damage to occur to the suite and they should all help to 
police the suite.

A junior officer assigned to the VMFAT-101 squadron recalled attending 
numerous "all officers" meetings during which there were general 
discussions among the officers that good judgment and
common sense should be exercised at Tailhook 91. However, despite 
the CO's contentions, the junior officer did not recall any specific formal 
guidance offered by his command and said he never saw CAPT 
Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991. The officer said, although he did not 
receive specific cautions from his command, he was aware from 
previous attendance at Tailhook conventions that behavior could get out 
of control. The junior officer said he recalled that most of the official
discussion at the all officers meetings involving Tailhook related to the 
logistics of transportation and purchasing of alcohol for the squadron 
hospitality suite. He stated that in addition to serving drinks,
the VMFAT-101 also supplied squadron stickers (zappers) and T-shirts as 
liaison gifts. He emphasized that all the items were paid for by the 
squadron members.

The VMFAT-101 chartered a bus using money from the officers coffee 
fund. An estimated 30 to 40 squadron members traveled to Tailhook 91 
on the bus.

Most witnesses who told us they visited the VMFAT-101 suite described it 
in terms such as "quiet" and "uneventful." There were, however, a few 
reported events that bear mentioning.

At one point, a butt biting episode took place in the suite. A foreign 
exchange officer assigned to the VMFAT-101 bit a woman on the hip and 
buttocks. The woman involved in the incident said that while she did not 
find the incident amusing, neither did she consider herself a "victim." She 
said that she and the Marine Corps officers who were with her when the 
incident occurred handled it at the time. She said the man who bit her 
later apologized after he sobered up. A male Marine Corps officer who is 
a friend of the woman reported that he and the VMFAT-101 CO were 
standing and talking with the woman when she was bitten. The CO 
stated he had no recollection of witnessing the incident.

At least seven people reported that a Marine Corps officer assigned to 
the VMFAT-101 was involved in some fight or altercation during which he 
was pushed into a concrete planter on the pool patio and injured his 
back. The details of the various accounts of the incident were not 
consistent. According to the injured officer, at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday 
he was standing on the pool patio in the rain talking to an acquaintance 
who is a Naval Reserve officer. The Marine Corps officer said he had
been drinking since 2:00 p.m. and was "feeling no pain." He started to 
splash water from rain puddles on the other officer who pushed him. As 
he fell backwards, the Marine officer's lower right back hit the corner of a 
concrete planter. He said hitting the planter made him "instantly sober" 
and "clear headed." He was advised by the squadron CO and a Navy 
flight surgeon to seek medical attention. The X-ray examination showed 
he had chipped some bones.

A Navy lieutenant said he witnessed a ballwalking incident that might 
have occurred in the VMFAT-101 suite. Our investigation disclosed that at 
least three VMFAT-101 squadron members ballwalked at Tailhook 91. 
One of the officers denied doing so until confronted with a photograph of 
him ballwalking.


MARINE AVIATION WEAPONS AND TACTICS SQUADRON 1 
(MAWTS-1 )
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, YUMA, AZ

Hilton Suite Number:         	35
Commanding Officer:          	COL Michael P. Delong, USMC 
				(did not attend Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	None at the time of Tailhook 91
Contributing Squadrons:      	VMFT-401 and VMFA-134
Squadron Members Attending:  	17 from MAWTS-1, 4-6 from VMFT-401, 
				and 5 from VMFA-134
Suite Financing:              	For MAWTS-1 members, initial 		
				voluntary payment of $75, with second 	
				voluntary assessment of $59; for VMFT-	
				401 and  VMFA-134, voluntary 		
				payments ranging from $25 to $50 for 	
				each attendee
Hours of Operation:          	Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight; 	
				Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, 
				3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$411.13
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$114.50 for carpet and sofa cleaning 	
				and damage to the telephone

The MAWTS-1 was organized and administered as a "staging place" for 
the squadron members to gather and socialize. There was no 
entertainment provided other than the display of various aircraft
photographs, slide shows and videos.

The suite coordinator told us that prior to the symposium, the CO decided 
to provide transportation for the squadron members to and from Las 
Vegas. Two enlisted personnel drove a Marine Corps Morale, Welfare 
and Recreation (MWR) vehicle carrying the MAWTS-1 squadron 
members to the symposium During the convention, the enlisted 
personnel stayed on temporary travel status at Nellis Air Force Base, Las 
Vegas, NV. Also prior to the symposium, two memoranda were sent to all
potential squadron attendees discussing the logistical efforts and 
conduct in the suite. A copy of CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991 
regarding various problems at previous Tailhook conventions was made 
available for each attendee to read before attending the symposium. The 
CO, suite coordinator and squadron attendees decided prior to the 
symposium that the suite would be managed in a professional manner. 
The squadron's intent was to advertise its operational capabilities
of providing instructor level training and certification and to recruit the 
"best of the best" to become future Marine Corps instructor pilots. To 
appear more professional, attendees were told to wear their MAWTS-1 
black polo shirts on Friday night and their white polo shirts on Saturday 
night.

The activities in the MAWTS-1 suite were described by Tailhook 
attendees as "boring" as there was no alcohol available in the suite until 
11:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Information provided by a  squadron 
member indicated that "soft porno" pictures, specifically of naked women, 
were presented   during one of the slide shows.


FIXED WING FLEET LOGlSTlCS SUPPORT SQUADRON 57 (VR-57)
NAVAL AIR STATION, NORTH ISLAND. CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	357
Commanding Officer:          	CDR Philip J. Swartz, USNR 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	Ten C-9 (VR) squadrons
Squadron Members Attending:  	Seven VR-57 officers and an 		
				undetermined number of officers
                            	from the other 10 VR squadrons
Suite Financing:             	Voluntary contributions (of no pre-set 	
				amount) from members of the various 	
				VR squadrons
Hours of Operation:         	Thursday 6:00 p.m. to Friday 2:00 a.m.; 
				Friday 12:00 noon to Saturday 
				2:00 a.m; Saturday 12:00 noon to 	
				Sunday 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Keg beer and mixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$1,115
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	None

The VR-57 hospitality suite was administered by VR-57 and was funded 
by squadron members throughout the VR community. The squadrons are 
Naval Reserve units. The CO told us the primary purpose of the suite 
was to afford those Naval Reserve officers assigned to the squadrons, as 
well as former officers, a place to meet and relax while at Tailhook 91.

One squadron member said that before Tailhook 91, the CO held an all 
officers meeting to determine which squadron members would be 
attending the convention. It was decided that duty officers would
be present in the hospitality suite whenever the suite was open and 
further agreed that the squadron would hire a woman from the San 
Diego area to tend bar in the suite during the evening hours. The
squadron paid the woman's transportation and lodging expenses while 
she was in Las Vegas. The CO informed us that his directions for 
conduct at Tailhook 91 were that there was to be no activity in the
suite that would be embarrassing for the squadron or the Navy.

By most accounts, the suite was one of the more subdued hospitality 
suites at the convention. The suite offered a full service bar that was 
operated during the evening and early morning hours. The
bartender told us that while in the suite she did not observe any improper 
conduct. She did note that on Friday evening two women entered the 
suite from the third floor hallway after having had numerous drinks 
thrown on them by unknown aviators. The women were provided with 
dry clothing. The XO informed us that on Saturday evening, the duty 
officer identified an underage female in the room and escorted her out of 
the suite. The CO told us there was one reported incident of "leg
shaving" in the suite. He learned of the incident after the convention and 
described it as an isolated matter and not a planned activity as in other 
suites. Although there were other reported incidents of "leg shaving" at 
Tailhook 91, no reliable information was developed regarding any other 
such incidents in the VR-57 suite.


AIR TEST AND EVALUATION SQUADRON FOUR (VX-4)
NAVAL AIR STATION. POINT MUGU, CA

Hilton Suite Number:           	360
Commanding Officer:            	CAPT Thomas A. Perkins, USN 		
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:             	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:        	VX-4
Squadron Members Attending:     32
Suite Financing:               	VX-4 Officer Fund, individual 		
				assessments and the sale of
                               	T-shirts at air shows
Hours of Operation:            	Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				4:00 a.m.; Friday, 5:00 p.m.  to 		
				Saturday, 4:30 a.m.; Saturday, 
				5:00 p.m. to Sunday, 5:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:        	Beer and "bushwhackers"
Total Cost of Alcohol:         	$8,500
Total Cost of Suite -8 Damage:  $1,800

The CO and XO of the VX-4 advised that prior to Tailhook 91 they 
decided they wanted their suite to be a class act. The XO explained that, 
because the VX-4 is the operational and test evaluation unit
for all of the Navy F-18 and F-14 air-to-air missile and related software 
products, he anticipated there would be a number of contractor 
executives and high ranking naval officers visiting the suite. He
also expected there would be a number of junior officers visiting the suite 
who might be interested in assignments with the VX-4. The XO said it 
was important, therefore, that the VX-4 suite be operated
professionally and with decorum. He noted that, prior to Tailhook 91, he 
received a letter and a telephone call from CAPT Ludwig, the Tailhook 
Association President and former  VX-4 CO, regarding appropriate 
behavior at the convention. The XO said CAPT Ludwig told him he 
wanted the VX-4 squadron to maintain its good image, and that CAPT 
Ludwig indicated he did not want strippers performing in the suites at 
Tailhook 91.

The CO and XO said they set ground rules for the operation of the suite. 
The suite was not to open    before 5:00 p.m. each day. The CO also said 
he denied a request from the squadron members to have strippers 
perform in the suite. The XO told us he and the CO decided not to have 
strippers in the suite because they did not know how the strippers might 
conduct themselves. Several squadron members stated that prior to 
Tailhook 91 they did receive instructions from the XO about such things
as the administration of the suite, the dress code, and that the VX-4 suite 
was to be conducted with higher standards than some of the other 
squadron suites.

According to the primary suite coordinator, the suite was funded by 
collecting $10 per month over a one-year period from each of the 
squadron members who were planning to attend Tailhook 91. He
said there was no command influence or coercion in collecting the 
money and if anyone refused to contribute, it meant they were not going 
to attend. The goal was to collect $4,000 to pay for the suite operation 
and any damages that might result. Another suite coordinator told us the 
funding also came from the sale of squadron T-shirts at air shows. He 
said after the initial $4,000 was spent in Las Vegas on the suite rental 
and the purchase of alcohol, approximately $4,500 more was raised by     
asking all VX-4 squadron officers to each contribute an additional $40 
and by using a number of personal credit cards.

The VX-4 suite served beer and a specialty drink called "bushwhackers" 
made from rum and Kahlua. The bushwhackers proved to be a popular 
drink, which apparently was the reason why the suite overspent on its 
alcohol budget. Early on Friday evening, the suite stopped serving 
bushwhackers for a time so as not to run out later. The suite had a drink 
machine and bar and showed videos of some VX-4 flight operations. 
According to information submitted by the VX-4 CO to the Naval 
Inspector General in November 1991, the suite hours of operation were 
from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. each day. Several suite coordinators and 
bartenders stated, however, that the suite remained open until 4:30
a.m. or 5:00 a.m. all three days of the symposium.

The VX-4 squadron logo/mascot is the Playboy Bunny symbol. The VX-4 
hired two cocktail waitresses, described as college-age girls dressed in 
rented Playboy Bunny costumes, consisting of short, black tuxedo 
jackets, leotards, and bunny ears and tails, to serve drinks in the suite. 
On Saturday night around 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, a drunken male 
reportedly grabbed one of the waitresses on the buttocks and tore off her 
bunny tail. The man was escorted out of the suite. The squadron also 
hired a female bartender who was reportedly dressed in shorts and a 
polo shirt. A male Air Force officer assigned to VX-4 stated he was given 
a squadron T-shirt that he wore while helping to distribute drinks. 
Several persons who visited the suite, including one female naval
officer, described the bartender and cocktail waitresses as being 
conservatively and tastefully dressed.

A number of those who visited the suite described it as "mellow" and 
"dignified." One junior officer, who stated that he spent a good deal of 
time talking to people in the VX-4 suite because he was interested in 
getting assigned to that squadron, described the VX-4 members as a 
prestigious, clean, neat group. Another officer stated he was in and out of 
the VX-4 suite several times over the weekend and he remembered 
several fully clothed females, dressed in black, dancing in the suite.

The VX-4 squadron members who were interviewed consistently 
reported there were no strippers, pornographic movies or other 
inappropriate entertainment in the suite. However, other persons gave
descriptions of the VX-4 suite that contradicted those of the squadron 
members. Most notable were the several reports of strippers performing 
in the VX-4 suite. At least eight male Navy or Marine Corps officers, none 
of whom were VX-4 members, stated they either heard of or saw 
strippers  performing in the VX-4 suite. It is important to note that only 
one of those officers said with  certainty that he saw the stripper in the 
VX-4 suite. The recollections of the others were not as specific, but they 
all mentioned the VX-4 suite as possibly or probably where they saw or 
heard about strippers performing.

Two other specific accounts of strippers performing in the VX-4 suite 
came from two civilian women. The two women were interviewed 
independently and gave similar accounts of going into the VX-4
suite sometime just after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, immediately after 
being assaulted in the gauntlet. One of the victims said that while in the 
VX-4 suite she saw a woman dancing on a table who took off her top, 
baring her breasts. The other victim said that she observed two strippers
dancing in the VX-4 suite. She said because of the crowd in the room 
she could only see the upper bodies of the women, both of whom had 
their breasts exposed. She commented that she thought the
strippers were either standing on some elevated platform or were on 
someone's shoulders because  their hands were touching the ceiling. 
She also recalled the rap song "Me So Horny" was playing on
the stereo. Both witnesses said that at the same time they saw the 
strippers performing there was a pornographic movie playing on the 
television screen. Both women said, with some degree of certainty, that it 
was in the VX-4 suite where they witnessed those events. One of the 
women specifically mentioned relating the events to the Playboy Bunny 
symbol represented in the suite. The CO of the VX-4 was recontacted 
after his initial interview in an effort to reconcile the contradictory
accounts of whether there were strippers in the suite. He reiterated his 
initial statements that he had denied the squadron's request for 
permission to have strippers perform, and he had no knowledge of
strippers or pornographic entertainment in the VX-4 suite at Tailhook 91. 
The VX-4 CO also said he was in the immediate vicinity or actually in the 
VX-4 suite on Saturday night during the times when the two women 
gauntlet victims said they saw strippers in the suite.

Investigation disclosed that the VX-4 suite was located in the area where 
the gauntlet ended. Numerous people described being in the hallway 
near the VX-4 suite when they saw women exit the gauntlet who 
appeared to have been grabbed, groped or more seriously assaulted. 
One female victim said she and another woman were assaulted in the 
gauntlet and that they sought refuge in the VX-4 suite. She stated they 
locked themselves in the suite bathroom and discussed their shock at 
being assaulted. There was one reported instance where a Navy 
lieutenant witnessed a visibly upset woman with a torn blouse, either in 
or near the VX-4 suite, who was being followed by three men who were
laughing and urging the woman to come back to them. Investigation 
failed to identify either the man or the three men. The lieutenant who 
witnessed the incident and who gave assistance to the woman was 
killed in an aircraft crash in February 1992. Other VX-4 squadron 
members reported hearing of the incident second hand. The VX-4 CO 
reported that he heard the terms "gauntlet" and "admiral's aide" yelled 
from the hall while he was in the VX-4 suite. Aside from those reports, 
there were no VX-4 squadron members who admitted having witnessed 
gauntlet activity or seen women in distress.


CHIEF OF NAVAL AIR TRAINING (CNATRA)
NAVAL AIR STATION, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
TRAINING SQUADRON 24 (VT-24)
TRAINING WING III
NAVAL AIR STATION, BEEVILLE, TX

Hilton Suite Number:           	364
Commanding Officer:            	RADM William P. McGovern, USN
				(attended Tailhook 91)
				CDR Austin G. Abercrombie, USN 
				(VT-24)(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:             	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:        	VT-24 and all other squadrons and 	
				miscellaneous commands within the 	
				CNATRA organizational structure
Squadron Members Attending:  	Approximately 40 -9 CNATRA officers
Suite Financing:           	$5,000 surplus from CNATRA 		
				hospitality suite at Tailhook 90 and 	
				individual assessments of $35 from 	
				participating officers
Hours of Operation:            	Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Friday, 2:00 p.m. to Saturday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Saturday 2:00 p.m. to 		
				Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:        	Margaritas, beer, open bar
Total Cost of Alcohol:          Estimated at $5,000 to $7,000
				(exact amount unavailable)
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	Some carpet damage reported
				exact amount unavailable

The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) is  a major Navy command 
responsible for the training of Navy and Marine Corps aviators and 
aviation support personnel such and landing signal officers (LSO's). The 
CNATRA is headquartered at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. The CNATRA
encompasses a large number of training squadrons and other 
subordinate commands located at various locations primarily in Texas, 
Florida -10  and Mississippi.

By many accounts, the CNATRA has hosted one of the most popular 
hospitality suites at the Tailhook  conventions. In recent years, many 
aviators told us they made it a point to visit the CNATRA suite
in the hope of meeting persons they knew from flight school either as 
instructors or fellow students. Many of those who went to Tailhook 91 
from the training commands were among the youngest officers at the 
convention and told us that was their first visit to Tailhook. No fewer than 
400 people told us they visited the CNATRA suite at some point during 
Tailhook 91.

Historically, the CNATRA suite has been hosted by one of the training 
squadrons within the command, with responsibility to host the suite 
passing from one squadron to another each year. Reportedly, the suite 
was funded by contributions from officers assigned to the various 
CNATRA squadrons, with any surplus funds turned over to the squadron 
responsible for the next year's suite. A Navy commander responsible for 
the suite in 1985 and 1986 told us that in years prior to and including 
1985 any CNATRA officers attending Tailhook would each donate $1. He 
said that additional funding in those years came from squadron-
sponsored fund raisers such as pool parties and golf tournaments. He 
went on to say that at Tailhook 86, the CNATRA rented a larger suite at 
the Hilton Hotel. In order to raise the additional money needed to fund 
the larger suite, each person who attended was required to pay a $25 
fee to "step" into the room and enjoy the bar and activities.           

Several witnesses connected the CNATRA suite to incidents they 
recalled from past Tailhooks. For example, a Navy lieutenant 
commander, a member of the Tailhook Association since 1977 who had
only missed one Tailhook convention in the last 15 years, told us about 
an incident he observed in the CNATRA suite during Tailhook 85. He 
said that a woman attempted to perform an amateur strip show in 
another suite but was escorted out. She then went to the adjacent 
CNATRA suite where she was encouraged by clapping and shouting. He 
observed the woman in a state of undress, bouncing on the bed. The 
officer recalled that one of the males in the suite removed his own 
clothing, got behind the woman while she was on all tours, and 
attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. He went on to say that he 
recalled the man was having some difficulty, he presumed because of 
the crowd of people watching.

Witnesses related instances of stripper performances, ballwalkers, other 
acts of indecent exposure and public sex acts that took place in the 
CNATRA suite during the years 1985 through 1990. A Marine Corps 
officer told us that, in one particular incident during Tailhook 90, he 
witnessed four or five men throw a couch out of an open window in the 
CNATRA suite. Three other Navy lieutenants  independently reported the 
same incident. The three lieutenants stated that although they had not       
 personally witnessed the incident, they were certain it had occurred. 
Another five naval officers each  reported they had heard of the event, 
but had no first-hand knowledge. Of the nine persons who mentioned the 
couch incident to us, not one could (or would) identify the persons who 
had done it.  One of the three lieutenants who did not personally witness 
the incident, but who said he knew that it had actually happened, wrote 
an article about his squadron's experiences at Tailhook 90. In the
September 21, 1990 edition of "The Flying K," a publication of the NAS 
Kingsville, Texas, the officer wrote:

	"The 1990 Tailhook Symposium is over. The good news is that all 
	Redhawks returned home relatively unharmed and none were convicted 
	of any crimes (felonies,  that is). This is not to say that 
	there was any lack of excitement at the 34th annual convention 
	held in the Las Vegas Hilton.

	"The days were filled with interesting lectures, forums, and 
	demonstrations, while the nights were characterized by celebration, 
	joviality, and debauchery. Once again the CNATRA Suite proved to be 
	the most hospitable and popular....

	"In three fun filled nights, CNATRA visitors drained the suite 
	of 40 kegs of beer, 450 gallons of margaritas containing 315 
	liters of tequila and 15 cases of liquor.

	"Conveniently located on the third floor overlooking the parking 
	lot, the suite  provided a base for the flight testing of various 
	household objects. LT [name deleted]  commented on this activity. 
	'The couch failed its initial spin evaluation and suffered complete 
	strike damage. The garbage cans proved, to the dismay of the 
	"engineers, " to be more aerodynamic than the couch.'

	"Airborne furniture turned out to be just a portion of the fun, 
	thanks to the entertainment committee of LT[s] [names 
	deleted]...While [names deleted] called upon their management 
	skills as "performer liaison officers," [name deleted] chose to 
	entertain the crowd with his own rendition of the Vegas Shuffle. 
	There was no encore."

The naval officer who wrote the article told us the amount of alcohol 
consumption reported in the article was factual. He also added that on 
the first night (Thursday) of Tailhook 90 there were trash cans thrown out 
of the CNATRA suite window. He said that, out of concern someone on 
the parking lot three floors below might be injured, it was decided to 
have the Hilton Hotel bolt the windows shut and that was accomplished 
by the second night. He said the couch was thrown out the window on
Saturday night after someone apparently managed to unbolt the 
windows. He recalled the Hilton Hotel was paid $800 for the couch that 
had been destroyed.

The CNATRA suite at Tailhook 91 was hosted by training squadron VT-
24 (now decommissioned) from the NAS Beeville, Texas. According to 
the CNATRA command and the VT-24 CO, the squadron received 
$5,000, which represented surplus funds from Tailhook 90 when the 
CNATRA suite had been hosted by VT-22. According to the VT-24 CO 
and XO, an additional $10,000 to $15,000 was raised from individual 
$35 assessments levied on each of the participating CNATRA officers. 
According to the VT-24 CO, there was a surplus of approximately $5,000 
after Tailhook 91. That money was divided equally and deposited to the 
Navy Recreation Funds at Pensacola, Florida, and Corpus Christi, 
Texas.

According to the CNATRA Chief of Staff, tickets were initially distributed 
to officers who paid their $35, but it was later ordered there not be any 
further tickets distributed for fear it might be misconstrued that the $35 
payment was for travel to Tailhook on the Navy C-9 flights. Nonetheless,
at least five officers told us they were under the impression their 
contribution went toward operation of the CNATRA suite and 
transportation to Las Vegas on the Navy C-9 flights.

The CNATRA command and the VT-24 CO told us instructions were 
given to the officers who served as duty officers in the suite and that the 
instructions included a prohibition on "dancing girls" (strippers), as well 
as the need for crowd control, suite clean-up details, authorized hours of
operation, and the authority of duty officers to eject anyone who was "out 
of control." The VT-24 CO also stated that he instructed the four 
lieutenants who were primarily responsible for the operation
of the suite that he did not want the men in the suite to act like animals, 
and he explicitly told them he did not want any strippers in the suite. The 
VT-24 XO told us he recalled that the CO instructed the primary suite 
coordinator that he wanted everything to be "by the book" and he 
expected appropriate behavior. The VT-24 CO said the four suite 
coordinators lodged in a suite on the third floor adjacent to the CNATRA 
suite.

The COs of some other training squadrons told us they also gave 
instructions to officers under their command. A Navy commander, who 
was the CO of VT-19 at the time of Tailhook 91, said that before the C-9 
flight left for Las Vegas he advised his squadron not to embarrass the 
command. to be careful and to take care of themselves. He added that 
he did not allow any students to attend Tailhook if they had never landed 
on a carrier. The CO of VT-22, who was the XO of the same squadron at 
the time of Tailhook 91, said that he encouraged all of his subordinate 
officers to attend. He also recalled giving the VT-22 squadron members 
his "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" speech prior to the symposium. He 
said he cautioned his squadron about AIDS, one-night stands and 
drinking to excess. He told them not to do anything about which they 
might be ashamed and that they would be held accountable for their 
actions at Tailhook. He said he told them to have a good time, but that
they were expected to attend and participate in the official symposium 
professional presentations. He said he told them not to take their clothes 
off in public.

Junior officers assigned to the training squadrons at the time of Tailhook 
91 said they went to Tailhook for various reasons. Some said they 
believed they were expected to attend and that it would  reflect poorly on 
them if they did not go. Some said they were encouraged to attend 
Tailhook 91 in order to participate in the symposiums and mingle in the 
CNATRA suite where they could meet  fellow aviators and build a 
foundation for their careers. Others said they attended Tailhook 91
primarily for the social aspects. According to the CNATRA command in its 
written submission to the Navy IG, "No mandatory attendance was 
required (of CNATRA officers) at any official event or social activity."

The VT-24 CO and XO said they periodically stopped at the CNATRA 
suite every day/evening of the symposium. The CO said he would check 
with the four lieutenants assigned as suite coordinators to get a verbal 
report on the evening's activities. He recalled he was told that on Friday 
night there were a few people thrown out of the suite because they had 
too much to drink. The VT-24 CO also recalled that at about 9:00 p.m. on 
Friday, a lieutenant from VT-26 told him that money had been
collected from men in the CNATRA suite for a stripper performance. The 
CO said he was initially opposed to the idea, but he then gave 
permission for the stripper to perform for two songs. The CO said he was 
present when the stripper performed and he ensured that she left the 
suite after two songs. That was corroborated by the XO and by a 
lieutenant. The lieutenant told us that on Friday night the VT-24 CO 
approached him and instructed him to get the stripper out of the suite. 
The lieutenant recalled the CO gave him the keys to a suite adjoining the 
CNATRA suite where he escorted her after her performance. The 
lieutenant added that the stripper dressed and immediately
left to do her act at another suite. He also recalled that the VT-24 CO was 
pretty upset the stripper was performing in the CNATRA suite.

Despite the CO's statements he had permitted a stripper in the CNATRA 
suite only for one brief performance on Friday evening, our investigation 
identified witnesses who stated there were strippers in the suite on other 
nights as well. At least 52 people told us there were strippers in the 
CNATRA suite at Tailhook 91. Eighteen of those said a stripper 
performed on Friday night. Eleven people said a stripper performed on 
Saturday, and two people recalled seeing a stripper in the CNATRA
suite on Thursday. The other 21 witnesses recalled seeing a stripper in 
the CNATRA suite but could not specify the night. Most of the 
descriptions of the strippers' performances were consistent in that
the acts were unremarkable and there was minimal contact between the 
strippers and the audience except for an occasional tip placed in the 
strippers' G-strings.

There was a ballwalking incident in the CNATRA suite on Saturday 
evening. A lieutenant junior grade admitted that he and four other 
officers ballwalked in the suite on a dare. A female Navy ensign stated 
she was assaulted on Saturday night in the suite when a drunken man 
placed his hands on her breasts.
There were two female cocktail waitresses serving drinks each night in 
the CNATRA suite. Both women wore black shorts and Tailhook 91 T-
shirts provided by the suite coordinators and worked strictly for tips.

The waitresses described their experiences over the three days as 
unpleasant, reporting that they were continually pinched, grabbed and 
groped by the men in the suite and that the men placed squadron
stickers on their breasts and buttocks even though the women 
repeatedly told the men to stop. They also said the men looked down 
their T-shirts and suggested that they could make better tips if they cut
their T-shirts to be more revealing. One waitress said the men grabbed 
her T-shirt, pulled it open, and looked at her breasts. Both waitresses 
said they were subjected to vulgar and lewd comments from the men in 
the suite. One waitress said she was bitten on the buttocks in the suite on 
Saturday night. The other woman said she saw men ballwalking in the 
suite on Saturday night. Both waitresses agreed that the behavior of the 
men in the suite got progressively more vulgar from Thursday to 
Saturday. One said the men in the suite went "crazy" during the Saturday 
night stripper performance and they subsequently refused to serve 
drinks while the stripper was performing. Only two of the male aviators 
we interviewed who stated they were in the CNATRA suite mentioned the 
treatment of the waitresses. Both men commented that they saw the 
waitresses get zapped on the buttocks with squadron stickers while one 
recalled that the waitresses seemed agreeable to the zapping and that 
they wore revealing clothing.

The admiral who commands CNATRA, RADM McGowen, told us he was 
in the CNATRA suite on Thursday and Friday evenings. That was 
consistent with other reports by junior officers. The admiral said he did 
not observe any unacceptable behavior while he was in the CNATRA 
suite but he later "learned that they had a stripper in there one night." He 
further said it was his understanding that the CO of VT-24 acted properly 
in having the stripper leave after just a short performance in which 
nothing improper occurred. He also told us he was not certain if he was 
on the third floor on Saturday night but was definitely not in the suite on 
Saturday.


STRIKE FIGHTER WING PACIFIC (STRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
NAVAL AIR STATIONÊLEMOORE, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	371
Commanding Officer:           	CAPT D. C. Kendall, USN 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	VFA-125, 27, 97, 113, 125, 127, 146, 	
				151; VAQ-34; Strike Fighter Weapons 	
				School; and Association of Naval 	
				Aviation
Squadron Members Attending:  	21 from VFA-125 and approximately 53 
				from the other contributing squadrons
Suite Financing:             	$4,000 from the above referenced 	
				contributing squadrons
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				4:00 a.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to Saturday, 
				3:00 a.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 		
				Sunday, 3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Keg beer and premixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$1,030
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	No damage; additional $100 cleaning fee

Strike Fighter Squadron One Two Five (VFA-125), Naval Air Station 
Lemoore, CA, was the host squadron for the hospitality suite in room 
370. Although the suite was administered by the VFA-125, it was funded 
by the various squadrons that make up the STRKFIGHTWINGPAC. 
Squadron members told us the purpose of the suite was to afford those 
officers from the VFA-125 and the other contributing squadrons a place 
to meet while at the convention. The suite was set up to display the
activities and highlight the accomplishments of the Strike Fighter Wings. 
The focal point of the suite was a 5-hour video featuring the F/A-18 
Hornet. According to Tailhook attendees, the suite also sponsored 
entertainment in the form of music and dancing, and served two specialty 
drinks, "cubi specialsÓ and "hornet stingers." The suite coordinators 
informed us they used the services of two bartenders and three 
waitresses in the suite on Friday and Saturday evenings to assist in the 
serving of alcoholic beverages .

The VFA-125 XO told us that, prior to Tailhook 91, squadron members 
were lectured by the CO as to their conduct and behavior at the 
convention. Specific instructions were given prohibiting pornographic 
movies or the hiring of strippers as entertainment for the suite. Squadron 
members confirmed that such instructions were given by the CO and 
included information from CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991 
regarding problems at previous Tailhooks.

Information provided by VFA-125 members during the course of the 
investigation reflected that at previous Tailhooks (and recommended for 
use at future Tailhooks) the squadron used invitations or "invites" as a 
means to encourage female civilians to attend the convention. 
Documents obtained from the squadron reflected remarks regarding the 
use of such "invites." In part, the instructions read, "Invites are a nice 
thing to have and guys love to give them out. If you are really aggressive
you could mail them out to the UNLV -11  sororities."


FIGHTER SQUADRON 124 (VF-124)
NAVAL AIR STATION, MIRIMAR, CA

Hilton Suite Number:		373
Commanding Officer:		CAPT George Moe, USN
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:		(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:		Fighter Squadrons VF-1, 2, 24, 51, 111 	
				and 211
Squadron Members Attending:	78
Suite Financing:		No individual assessment; profits from 	
				the sale of squadron memorabilia and 	
				contributions of approximately $4,500 	
				from supporting squadrons
Hours of Operation:		Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Friday 3:00 p.m. to Saturday, 
				2:00 a.m.; Saturday, 3:00 p.m. to 		
				Sunday 2:00 a.m.; alcohol served 
				3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:		Keg beer and margaritas
Total Cost of Alcohol:		$1,954
Total Cost of Suite Damage:	$412 for damage (stains) to the 		
				furniture

The VF-124 suite was called the ÒFightertownÓ suite as it represented 
other fighter squadrons based at Naval Air Station, Miramar, CA, and 
derived some of its funding to support the suite from those squadrons.  
by most accounts, the ÒFightertownÓ suite was organized and 
administered as an entertainment type suite.

The squadron commander told us he received CAPT LudwigÕs letter of 
August 15, 1991 regarding various problems at previous Tailhook 
conventions.  The commander furnished documents pertaining to 
specific guidance and instructions given by him on the administration of 
the suite and conduct at the convention, to specifically include the 
treatment of female guests.  During our interviews of squadron members, 
a number of them confirmed receiving such instructions at an all officers 
meeting prior to Tailhook 91.  The commander informed us he attended 
the convention out of an obligation to his squadron and he visited the 
suite to ensure everything was running smoothly.  In addition to the 
commander, the squadronÕs executive officer attended Tailhook 91.

The entertainment in the suite, as described during the course of our 
investigation, consisted of a disk jockey being hired each evening to play 
music; one stripper hired for Friday evening and two strippers hired for 
Saturday evening. In addition, pornographic movies were shown at 
various times throughout the weekend and there were reported incidents 
of group ballwalking (involving as many as 10 men) and public sexual 
acts in the suite. Also, underage females reportedly had to be removed
from the suite.

Witnesses stated that the stripper who performed on Friday evening 
received tips, in some instances by taking the money from the aviators 
(dollar bills) with her vagina. The performance of Saturday was further 
described as being lewd. On that night, the strippers performed as 
sadomasochists and lesbians. Sexual contact between a number of the 
aviators and the strippers was reported, to include the strippers fondling 
the exposed genitals or sitting on the faces of participating aviators. One 
of the strippers reportedly used a whip as part of her act, using it to draw 
onlookers to the "stage" where they then had physical contact with the 
strippers.

A number of aviators also said that, during the strippers performance on 
Saturday evening, a male and female couple engaged in sexual 
intercourse in the rear of the suite directly behind aviators who
stood watching the strippers perform.

The commander denied any previous knowledge of, or providing 
authorization for, the hiring of strippers. The executive officer told us that 
he had heard plans were being made for the hiring of strippers. During 
the course of our investigation, the President of the Tailhook Association 
was questioned regarding the hiring of strippers to perform at the 
convention. He stated that he personally  telephoned the commander of 
VF-124 prior to Tailhook 91 and asked him not to have strippers at
Tailhook 91. Regarding the strippers' performances, which occurred late 
in the evenings, squadron members informed us that the suite was very 
crowded at the time; that an announcement as to the performance was 
made; that women were present; and that the door to the suite was 
closed during the show.

A number of photographs were provided during our investigation that 
depicted men (who were later identified as naval aviators) wearing T-
shirts imprinted with "HE-MAN WOMAN HATER CLUB" and "WOMEN 
ARE PROPERTY." Our investigation determined that the T-shirts 
originated sometime prior to Tailhook 91 and were not specifically made 
for the convention. The T-shirts were originally sold by individuals 
associated with the VF-124.

Squadron members were not entirely candid during the interview 
process. The graphic descriptions of the strippers performances in the 
hospitality suite and the information on the public sex acts taking
place were told to us by Tailhook attendees, who, for the most part, were 
not associated with the VF-124.


NAVY FIGHTER WEAPONS SCHOOL (TOP GUN)
NAVAL AIR STATION MIRAMAR, SAN DIEGO, CA

Hilton Suite Number:         	379 and 380
Commanding Officer:          	CAPT J. A. Robb, USN 
				(attended Tailhook 91)
Executive Officer:           	(attended Tailhook 91)
Contributing Squadrons:      	None
Squadron Members Attending:  	24
Suite Financing:             	Squadron dues from the TOP GUN 	
				Officers' Fund
Hours of Operation:          	Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to Friday, 
				4:00 a.m.; Friday, 4:00 p.m. to Saturday, 
				4:00 a.m.; Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to 		
				Sunday, 4:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:      	Open bar drinks and keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:       	$1,020
Total Cost of Suite Damage:  	$75 for carpet cleaning and wallpaper damage

The Navy Fighter Weapons School hospitality suite was commonly 
referred to as the TOP GUN suite. By most accounts, the TOP GUN suite 
was organized and administered as an entertainment type suite.

The XO told us he received CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991. 
During a squadron briefing, the CO instructed his staff that he was happy 
to have them attend Tailhook 91 but they were to conduct themselves 
professionally. The XO and suite coordinators were told to ensure that 
the suite was a "class act." The CO further instructed the staff that, since 
TOP GUN routinely hosted high level corporate, Navy, Marine Corps and 
Air Force management during the symposium, a positive atmosphere 
was imperative. The suite coordinators were directed to screen for 
underage guests and not to allow any inebriated individuals into the 
suite. Although there was one report of University of Nevada Las Vegas 
students in the suite, the XO told us that, while he bartended, he did not 
"card" anyone.

The entertainment in the suite, as described during the course of our 
investigation, consisted of a display of aircraft weaponry and tactical 
videos from the Persian Gulf War. The suite was described by squadron 
members as "quiet" and "docile" in comparison to other suites. One 
female Navy attendee related that she "felt comfortable in that suite 
because the guys were really nice." An open bar serving beer, sodas 
and mixed drinks featured "cubi specials" as the suite's specialty drink. 
One squadron member told us that 12 full kegs of beer and 14 to 21 
bottles of liquor were consumed in the suite. Hot dogs were also served. 
The TOP GUN administrative officer provided $3,000 to the suite 
coordinators to finance the purchase of liquor and hot dogs. The money 
had been obtained from the sale of TOP GUN T-shirts and other 
collectibles from the TOP GUN Memorabilia Shop at the Naval Air 
Station Miramar. Two female civilian attendees stated they purchased 
Tailhook T-shirts in the suite for $10.

One squadron member related that, before the symposium, everyone 
attending had to sign up for jobs in the suite such as bartending, serving 
hot dogs, changing videotapes or selling T-shirts. The "working list" was 
posted on the wall in the suite. Most squadron members stated the 
bartending duties were fulfilled by members of the squadron, however, 
one witness identified a civilian working as a bartender in the suite.

Despite the information received from squadron members as described 
above, it became evident during the course of our investigation that TOP 
GUN members had not been candid in providing any information 
concerning suite activities such as pornographic videos, stripper 
performances, indecent exposure, and discussions in the suite about 
assaults that had occurred in the hallway. Specifically, there were two 
reports of pornographic videos shown in the suite, six reports of stripper
performances, two reports of indecent exposure, and three discussions 
about assaults that occurred in the hallway. Each of the instances was 
reported by members of either other military units or civilian Tailhook 
attendees. There were no reports of those incidents by current or prior 
TOP GUN squadron members.

Regarding the pornographic videos, a Navy officer could not recall which 
night he saw the videos, saying it could have been Thursday, Friday or 
Saturday night. A female civilian distinctly recalled looking for one of the 
TOP GUN instructors and entering the suite between 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 
p.m. on Saturday night when the lights were dimmed, the curtains were 
drawn and a pornographic video was playing.

Some of the witnesses to the stripper performances were able to recall 
which nights the strippers performed while other witnesses were not. 
Two of the most vivid recollections were from one Navy officer and one 
Marine Corps officer. The Navy officer reported that at approximately 
11:00 p.m. on Saturday night two strippers were in the suite. While the 
audience cheered and clapped, one stripper performed while the other 
handled the music. The Marine Corps officer reported that he entered the
suite, finding it "really packed" while "several" professional strippers 
were performing on a "make-shift" stage of coffee tables pulled together.

Other information not provided by TOP GUN members related to 
discussions of assaults. Every TOP GUN member interviewed said they 
did not have any information concerning the assaults that took place in 
the hallway, however, information developed through interviews of other 
military personnel, at best, appeared contrary. On three separate 
occasions, conversations held in the suite indicated that TOP GUN 
members were aware of assaults taking place in the hallway. 
Specifically, one female attendee stated she told suite attendees that 
she did not want to go down the hallway because men had grabbed her 
buttocks when she went down it before. Another individual recalled 
being told by suite occupants to go around rather than through the 
hallway because women were getting grabbed there. A third 
conversation took place when a Navy officer came into the suite and said 
to the effect, "Hey, some guys down at the end of the hallway just picked 
up a naked girl and dropped her (on the floor) "                                                

Several witnesses related that the Secretary of the Navy, numerous 
admirals and various civilians and contractors visited the suite at 
different times throughout the symposium. In particular, one squadron
member recalled having "to throw an admiral" and four other men out of 
the suite at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning.



Notes

1   Details of leg shaving activities and belly shots are provided in 
    Section VIII of this report.

2   The primary officer responsible for the leg shaving booth was from 
    VAW-120, Norfolk Naval Air Station, and had not previously met the CO 
    of VAW-110.

3   "Chem lightÓ is a term commonly used to refer to a stick-lite device that 
    can be chemically activated to glow and thereby emit colored light.

4   This incident is detailed in Section X.

5   Witnesses described a practice known as Òpackage checkingÓ whereby 
    attendees fondled the genitals of members of the opposite sex. Reports 
    of that activity included witness accounts of a male and female who took
    turns fondling each otherÕs exposed genitals in front of a large number of 
    suite attendees.

6   Persons under the age of 21 are classified as underage under Nevada 
    State law, thus, they are not legally able to purchase or be served 
    alcohol in that state.

7   The officer could not identify the victim by name nor was she further 
    identified during the course of the investigation.

8   The VX-4 CO advised that the Hilton Hotel billed the squadron $1,800 
    to replace carpet damaged by cigarette burns and spilled drinks. The 
    squadron disputed those damages and asked the Tailhook Association 
    to intervene with the hotel. The CO said he has been advised by Mr. Ron 
    Thomas, the Executive Director of the Tailhook Association, that the 
    Hilton Hotel decided not to pursue the matter.

9   The CNATRA records indicate that approximately 400 officers 
    contributed funds for operation of the CNATRA suite.  However, one 
    naval officer in charge of transportation estimated that as many as 800 
    CNATRA officers attended.

10  At the time of Tailhook 91, the CNATRA was organized into six 
    training wings, each of which had subordinate training squadrons and/or 
    other subordinate commands. Training Wing I, located at NAS Meridian,
    Mississippi, consists of training squadrons VT-7 and VT-19 Training 
    Wing Il, located at NAS Kingsville, Texas, consists of squadrons VT-21, 
    VT-22 and VT-23. Training wing III was located at NAS Beeville, Texas, 
    and consisted of squadrons VT-24, VT-25 and VT-26. (Training Wing III and 
    all three squadrons were decommissioned in 1992. The NAS Beeville, 
    Texas was closed on February 1, 1993.) Training Wing IV, located at 
    NAS Corpus Christi Texas, includes squadrons VT-27, VT-28 and VT-31. 
    Training Wing V, located at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, consists of 
    squadrons VT-2, VT-3 and VT-6, a Marine Training Support Group 
    (MATSG), and squadrons HT-8 and HT-18. Training Wing Vl, located at 
    NAS Pensacola, Florida, consists of squadrons VT-4, VT-10 and
    VT-86. Other CNATRA subordinate commands located at NAS 
    Pensacola include the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue 
    Angels), the Navy Aviation School Command and a Marine Training 
    Support Group. The CNATRA also includes a Naval Air Training United 
    located at Mather Air Force Base, California.

11  Our investigation determined that eight UNLV female students were 
    assaulted at Tailhook 91; two other local female college students who 
    attended Tailhook 91 at the suggestion of UNLV students were also 
    assaulted. Seven of the ten college students were under the legal 
    drinking age of 21.