Here's a story from Audrey's current deployment to Saudi Arabia as part of Desert Shield
Late Summer 1990
HQ 74th Fighter Squadron
King Khalid Air Base
Saudi Arabia
"TURN THAT NAVY CRAP OFF!" Audrey's stentorian voice rose above the driving opening guitar riff of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone"
"But it's such a cool song, Colonel!" Lieutenant Erma "Burner" Christopher protested.
"It's NAVY crap! Let them play it as much as they like! Not on my base!" Audrey stated, stalking away from the squadron ready room.
The song and the film "Top Gun" irked Audrey to no end, ever since it came out. Sure, it was a cool film about fighter pilots, with a cool song, but it belonged to the Navy, and there wasn't anything nearly as cool for the Air Force. She wished there was something she could do to get something that would inspire as much pride and swagger for the Strike Witches and pilots under her command.
Audrey went back to her office, snagging a cup of coffee on the way. She flopped down in her chair, glaring at the stack of paperwork on her desk, sipping her coffee. She sighed, set down her coffee and picked up the top piece of paper of the stack and began reviewing it. She was plowing through the pile of paper sitting in her in basket for over an hour, before she jerked her head up at the door knock.
"Come in" Audrey said to the door.
Master Sergeant Bowers stuck her head in the door.
"Colonel, I know you didn't want to be disturbed for a while, but Chief Master Sergeant Willis and Captain Cooper said that they had something to discuss with you." Master Sergeant Bowers said, apologetically.
"Send them in, Master Sergeant." Audrey said, as she stood and stretched.
As Chief Master Sergeant Willis and Captain Cooper came in, Audrey waved them to the chairs in front of her desk.
"At ease, Chief, Captain. Have a seat. What can I do for you two?" Audrey said, as she sat back down behind her desk.
Chief Master Sergeant Kristen Willis was almost 2 decades older than Audrey, She'd been serving in the Air Force since Kita, and was on the verge of mandatory retirement. As the senior NCO of the squadron, not only did she have special insight on the thoughts and attitude of the whole squadron, but she had that special knack of senior NCOs of magically getting things done that seemed impossible, along with being plugged into the CMS (Chief Master Sergeant) intelligence network that often predicted things happening or actions taken by senior command . She also had interesting insights about many senior commanders, having served with and under them throughout her career. She was the squadron's unofficial counselor, teacher, adviser and confidant. She also baked a serious Boston Cream Pie on occasion. Short, compact, with clear gray eyes and gray-streaked short light brown hair, she looked more like someone's mother, but that impression was quickly dispelled when she encountered sloppiness, haphazardness, and sass. Then she transformed into the female version of the raging male senior NCO. All the squadron members respected her skill, ability, knowledge, experience and competence, but were a little afraid of her, even the officers.
Captain Jayne Cooper was the squadron's PIO (public information officer). As the first official mixed force unit in the world, the 74th was often in the public spotlight, not just in Liberion, but all over the world. Captain Cooper was naturally outgoing and talkative, and she slid into being the public face of the 74th with ease.. She handled the incessant questions from both civilian and foreign military news agencies with surprising ease, with a dash of information and humor. She easily managed the media, who were often searching for juicy sensational stories about the mix of young women and men serving in the same unit. She quickly and forcefully pushed back at baseless rumor and sharply corrected misconceptions that the 74th was a hot mess, brewing of scandal and intrigue. Tall, slim, blonde with bright blue eyes and a peaches-and-cream complexion, she looked more like an actress. In spite of it all, she was still an exemplary Air Force officer.
"Colonel, I think I've got a solution to your problem with "Danger Zone" and "Top Gun"." Captain Cooper said, leaning forward with excitement.
"Go ahead, Captain, I'm listening" Audrey replied, intrigued.
"Ma'am, how about we make our own music video? Granted it's not a movie like "Top Gun", but it won't cost nearly as much, and it isn't going to take as long to make." Captain Cooper stated, still brimming over with excitement.
"Chief, what to do you think? I kind like the idea of having our own catchy theme, but we need to do it right." Audrey said, turning to Chief Master Sergeant Willis
Chief Master Sergeant Willis sat back, her arms crossed over her chest, a frown on her face as she considered everything she could think of carefully. After a few moments, her face creased into a smile and she uncrossed her arms.
"Colonel, I think it could work. We can cut in video clips from training missions and I think it can catch on, if we find the right music." Chief Master Sergeant Willis said, in her gravelly alto.
"That reminds me, Captain. Whatever music you choose, you need to get permission from the artist first. We don't want what happened to you-know-who to happen to us." Audrey warned.
A wildly popular music video debuted on MTV a few years ago, that had to be yanked within days of first airing, when the artist who had originally performed the song, threatened a copyright infringement suit. The creator of the music video was roundly castigated for not doing their basic homework, and they had literally disappeared from the music video scene, never to release another music video. To this day, their name is never mentioned.
"I promise that will never happen, Colonel." Chief Master Sergeant Willis stated flatly.
"Where will you find the right equipment? Something that can make a professional music video can't be cheap." Audrey asked
"No worries, Colonel! There's a state of the art media lab right here on base! And our hosts have given me free access!" Captain Cooper announced brightly.
"Okay, you two can pursue this project. But it will be unofficial. That means any work you do on will be during off-duty time. I don't want this project to take away from your official duties." Audrey warned.
"Of course, ma'am! All work is to be done off-duty!" Captain Cooper said brightly
"Chief, I'm trusting you to keep Captain Cooper within the lines" Audrey said, turning to the Chief Master Sergeant.
"Of course, ma'am. I'll make sure Captain Cooper stays in bounds." Chief Master Sergeant Willis said, flatly.
"That sounds like a plan, ladies. I look forward to what you come up with." Audrey said, with a smile.
Audrey stood up and the other two women did the same. The two came to attention and saluted. Audrey did the same. They turned and left the office. Audrey sat back down and started attending to her paperwork, feeling like something good would be coming.
A week later, Captain Cooper and the Chief Master Sergeant came back to see Audrey near the close of work.
"So, any progress, ladies?" Audrey asked after they settled into the chairs in front of her desk.
"Yes, ma'am, I think we've found our song. It's bright and catchy, and I think we can make a video of it pretty easily." Captain Cooper said, excitedly.
"Chief, what do you think?" Audrey asked, turning to the Chief Master Sergeant.
"Colonel, I think it can work, but the only issue is that the group that performed it, is Brittanian. I've already been in contact with their recording company, and they seem open to allowing us to use it, so long as we give them credit for the song itself." Chief Master Sergeant Willis replied.
"Can I listen to it?" Audrey asked.
"Sure, ma'am! Here" Captain Cooper said, handing Audrey a portable tape player.
Audrey put on the headphones and pressed 'Play'. The opening guitar riff was enticing. The beat was light and catchy. The opening verse was quick and simple, but keeping in the upbeat nature of the music. It was one of those songs that could qualify as an 'ear-worm'; getting stuck in the mind of the person listening to it and replaying over and over. She switched off the tape player and took off the headphones.
"What's the name of the song, and who's performing it?" Audrey asked.
"Ma'am, it's called 'There They Go', and it's performed by a Brittanian group called The Ma's." Captain Cooper answered.
"I like it. I think it could be a winner. What do you think, Chief?" Audrey asked, turning to the Chief Master Sergeant.
"Colonel, as I said, the recording company is open to giving us permission to use it, provided we give them credit for the song. I like it, and I think it would be a hit." Chief Master Sergeant Willis said, nodding her head in agreement.
"All right, Captain, get going and set the videos to the music. I'd like to screen it when you're done. I may want to let the recording company screen it as well. Any objections?" Audrey said.
"No objections, ma'am. I'll have it ready to screen for you when I get finished." Captain Cooper enthused.
"I'll help out where I can and get back to you on progress soon, Colonel." Chief Master Sergeant Willis intoned.
"Good, go ahead and get to work. I'm looking forward to what you come up with. You're dismissed." Audrey said.
Both Captain Cooper and Chief Master Sergeant Willis stood up, came to attention and saluted. Audrey did the same, and the two departed from her office. Audrey sat back down and dug into the paperwork for the training ammunition allotments.
A week later, Audrey welcomed Chief Master Sergeant Willis and Captain Cooper as they rolled in a cart with a TV and VCR on it.
"Colonel, we'd like to show you what we've come up with!" Captain Cooper said brightly.
"Let's see it, Captain" Audrey replied
Captain Cooper turned on the TV, put a VHS tape into the tape recorder and pressed "Play". The opening guitar riff played, and it showed a split screen of an A-10 pilot and Strike Witch getting into their crafts and taxiing out. The opening verse saw an A-10 Striker taking off and then an A-10 aircraft taking off, then joining up in formation.
The intervening guitar riff saw again a split screen still shots of another pilot and Strike Witch getting into their crafts and taxiing out. The second verse saw another A-10 aircraft and Striker taking off and joining the other two in formation.
The next instrumental riff shows a split screen of the Witches and pilots communicating with each other, using radio and hand signals, as well as with the ground controllers, on their way to the target area.
The third verse started with an A-10 aircraft and a Strike Witch launching AGM-65 missiles. The next line saw another A-10 and Strike Witch launching their missiles from another angle. The next bit saw an A-10 and Strike Witch releasing GBU-12 laser guided bombs. The next bit after that showed another A-10 and Strike Witch releasing their laser guided bombs from another angle. The next bit showed an A-10 and Strike Witch releasing their napalm and the verse winds up with the last A-10 and Strike Witch team releasing their napalm from a different view.
The fourth verse shows the 2 A-10 aircraft coming in together and strafing a ground target with their GAU-8 cannons. Next shows the 2 Strike Witches strafing another target with their Mk 44 cannons.
Then comes a split screen view, as all 4 members of the flight strafe individual targets. The final view shows all 4 members in finger four formation, simultaneously strafing everything in front of them, and then flying off.
The final views show them forming up and flying back to base, then landing and getting out of their crafts. The final scene shows the pilots and Strike Witches, walking in a line towards the camera, carrying their helmets under their arms, laughing and joking with each other, then fading to dark.
"So, what do you think, Colonel?" Captain Cooper eagerly asked, as she switched off the tape player and turned off the TV.
Audrey thought for a moment. The music was bright and catchy. The videos were intermixed with commendable skill, with good timing. As a first effort, it did capture what Audrey hoped to find in something that would instill a little pride and swagger to her squadron. With some judicious editing and tightening up of the synchronization of the videos and the lyrics, it was a definite winner.
"I like it. If you can tighten up the video and lyrics synchronization and clean it up a bit, I think it might be ready to show to the rest of the squadron." Audrey said.
"Great! I'll get on it right away! I should have it finished in a couple of days, ma'am" Captain Cooper replied.
"Chief, how are all the legal details going?" Audrey asked, turning to Chief Master Sergeant Willis.
"I talked with the recording company, and they were interested to see what we come up with. In fact, the band itself is eager to see what the video looks like, as well, ma'am." Chief Master Sergeant Willis said.
"Captain, can you send them a copy of the video, once you finish refining it?" Audrey asked.
"Of course, Colonel! I'll get right on it!" Captain Cooper responded, brightly.
"Okay, ladies, you're dismissed." Audrey said, standing up.
Both Captain Cooper and Chief Master Sergeant Willis stood up, came to attention and saluted. Audrey did the same. They both turned to leave, chatting animatedly. Audrey smiled, as she sat back down to her paperwork, thinking of the finished product.
A few days later, Captain Cooper and Chief Master Sergeant Willis showed off the finished video. Audrey thought it was the thing they needed. They came up with a plan to play it hourly on the squadron's closed circuit TV system, which had sets all over the squadron headquarters, cafeterias, break rooms, in the ready room and in all the common living areas. Then they waited for the reaction from the squadron.
To say response was positive, was an understatement. In fact, members of neighboring squadrons starting asking about it, and got Audrey to okay a limited release to them for in-squadron use only. It caught on so well, some of the senior NCOs for the ground crews were complaining that some of the plane handlers were breaking out in song, as they directed planes for take-off. Chief Master Sergeant Willis got word back from the recording company, that the group had asked permission to use the video as part of the opening for their live performances.
The big break came, when AFN-Middle East put out a call for units stationed in the Middle East to send them music videos on what each unit was doing. The top five would be submitted to MTV for general airing. Captain Cooper and Chief Master Sergeant Willis sent in the video, with Audrey's blessing.
Two weeks later, AFN-Middle East announced the five winners that would be forwarded to MTV.
Number 5: "Walk the Road" sung by Jimmy Change done by HHC, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division – Camp Inouye, Saudi Arabia
Number 4: "Cutlass Dance" performed by the Key Largo Pops done by 42nd Air Refueling Squadron – Incelkirk AFB, Turkey
Number 3:"Tell Overture" performed the Nantucket Pops done by HQ Troop, 2nd Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment – Camp Kelly, Saudi Arabia
Number 2: "Riders in the Sky" sung by Elvet Pretzel done by VF-101 -USS Eisenhower
Number 1: "There They Go" sung by The Ma's done by 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron – King Khalid AFB, Saudi Arabia
MTV conducted a phone-in poll and "There They Go" won by a landslide. Inserted into their regular music video rotation (with permission by USAF and the Ma's) it shot up to number 4 charts in a week and stayed in the top 10 for 24 weeks, falling out of the top 10 only when Desert Storm wound down.
Audrey was right; the song proved to be an "ear-worm" to all those who saw the video and heard the song. She smiled every time she heard it, knowing it killed off thinking of "Top Gun", at least for her squadron, for the time they were in Saudi Arabia.