This 53-minute documentary was released in 1994 by the Computer Sciences Corporation. It documents the history of aviatrix Pancho Barnes and the famous Happy Bottom Riding Club at what is now Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Well, Chuck Yeager died last night, so I had to watch The Right Stuff. Which naturally meant that I had to go looking for this Pancho Barnes documentary. Thank you for posting this! I'd forgotten how totally mind-blowing it is. So many legends of aviation...
i landed at Pancho Barnes dirt airstrip in a Taylorcraft fabric airplane in 1946 and joined The Happy Bottom Riding Club. It was the first leg of my solo cross country flight that began in Bakersfield, California, After hanging out there for a short time and signing the HBRC register, I took off and flew to Cambria Pines and then back home to Bakersfield. This, of course, happened before the future astronauts arrived and joined the club.The winds were tricky at Barnes and one had to slip their plane oftentimes when coming in for a landing. When taking off you had to get the thermo just right to lift your plane to enough height to clear the mountain tops. Will never forget that day. I'm 92 now but I remember it as clear as day.What fun!
Interesting story Mr.McLaughlin. Son of a USAF officer, I was born on Edwards in '54. I have owned and flown a spruce and fabric plane myself, and can imagine how exciting it must have been for you as a young man back in the day. Those kind of memories stick with you like glue, don't they? Good health and best wishes to you sir.
Going through my history I can't believe "Poncho" Barnes aka Florentine Lowe is a part of mine and her grandfather Thaddeus SC Lowe!! I couldnt be more proud!! 🇺🇸❤💯✔❤💪🖒🍻🛩✈⤴🆙🇺🇸
After watching this I'm kinda thinking that the movie "The Right Stuff" could have been about ten hours longer (and I wouldn't have complained about it at all).
you should get tom wolfe's book on audible; it's read by dennis quaid, who played leroy g. "gordo" cooper in the feature film. that will more than fill your 10 hr wish; i am on my 3rd time through, definitely worth it, trust me!
Stationed at Edwards from 1964 thru 1965 6515 OMS ground crew on the TB-58 Hustler chase for the X-B 70. always thought the government burned the place down. And then Vietnam came along and that was that. I also loved being there, it was great for a 19 year old fresh out of tech school. Only 2 of us out of our class went to flight test, quite an honor.
to go to flight-test, you had to know flight surfaces pretty much inside and out, physics, quick math in your head, and have pretty much a photographic memory. That, and could ride "G's" into the sunset.
I'm an Australian, and I gotta say that Pancho Barnes made America great . The pity is the lack of respect shown by beaurocracy towards her. She was in effect an integral piece of Edwards airforce base and as such should have been offered a chance to remain so as the base expanded and modernized over the years. Her industry surely played a major part in maintaining moral amongst those pilots central to creating our modern world where jet aviation plays such a massive part in all our lives. Pancho Barnes deserves to be remembered as a national hero and an example of the freedom of spirit that America so rightly holds aloft for all the people of the world to aspire to. Mgba
From Chuck Yeager's autobiography, I learned a little about Barnes, but this video with all these different people really put a lot of color to the canvas.
Glad I found this, was always curious about them place in the movie, amazing woman Pancho was, neat hearing the stories, my grandfather was a B-25 pilot under Gen. Doolittle, they were close friends. He told many stories etc, sure miss hearing them.
It's true it wasn't a cat-house. It was a drinking establishment. That's why chuck said it wasn't a church. No written material exists proving that it was a cat-house, that I am aware of. And even the general states that she would kick you out of the club if you tried any hanky-panky with one of the models/dancers on premise.
What an amazing tribute and story of a fantastic, COLORFUL Lady! My Dad knew her when he flew the SR-71 Blackbird in the early 70's. I never had the privilege. I'm now a little upset that so much History was left out of "The Right Stuff"!
@@wayned1807 Yeah, I remember him saying that... He was less of a Cowboy than the Movie portrayed him as, and John Glenn wasn't as much of a Saint! It was all for entertainment value.
An interesting bit of history! I was born on Edwards AFB in 1954. My Air Force father was stationed there from 1951-1956. When not working (Logistics and later in communications) one of his favorite activities was drinking and bar room singing, so I'm positive he spent plenty of time at Panchos. I'll bet he knew some of the folks in this film. I wish he was still alive so I could ask. Thank you for uploading the film for us.
Her biography with the same name is a fabulous book. Highly recommended. Woo Hoo the stories and tales. The food she served at the place was enough on its own. Great reading! Lots of pictures as well.
Especially, the part where he tells the story of the dog fight between himself and a German pilot! He said the German pilot had to bail out, and as he passed Gen. Yeager on the way down the German pilot saluted him!
I hadn't seen this doc before, but I'm glad it's available. I grew up near Edwards AFB, and MET Pancho when I started flying ( she winced at this scruffy greenhorn in front of her).
So many things discussed in this video, things I never knew. Edwards draws out so many thoughts, and memories, it's as though there is a collective conscience. I remember feeling it when I was an 18 year old sailor. I was there visiting Edwards to see a pilot I had met many years before and again as an air force chaplain, many years after that. The magic continues.
The REAL story of how Yeager busted his ribs was SO much more spectacular than what was depicted in the film version of The Right Stuff. Maybe they thought showing a horse plowing into a barbed wire fence at a gallop and flipping over would be a bit unsettling for audiences. Not to mention for the horse performing the stunt.
A wonderful video and production. Thank you so much for posting. This should be required viewing in every high school and university in the USA. MSgt Buck Buchanan, USAF (Ret)
We as Americans celebrate a lot of days for various reasons. Poncho doesn't need an airport or base named after her. She needs her own day. The woman of Aviation. Mark the day that everyone else celebrates by going out to her place as a national holiday.
Got a visit from Pancho today. I was giving tour for about a dozen people at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia this afternoon and stopped at the Dobbins mausoleum, pointing out Memorial Hall down river which he built. Not sure why, but I decided to tell about his granddaughter Florence Leontine Lowe, aka Pancho Barnes, who is NOT buried here, but bought her airplanes and built the Happy Bottom Riding Club with her inheritance from grandfather Dobbins (grandfather Lowe died broke). I finished my story by saying "She's not buried here; she was cremated. Her grandson decided to spread the ashes over the former site of the ranch. He flew to the right spot and released the ashes, which immediately flew back in his face..." And at this VERY second, a whirlwind came off the Schuylkill River and picked up a dust devil which blew all over us. Everybody looked at me like I had planned the special effect. Nope, tweren't me. By the way, I love this documentary.
A few observations: Wow does that guy sound like he could be Clint Eastwood's twin or what! The general who was brought in to get pancho to move out was a jerk, he didn't express remorse at all really. Typical government BS, they could have worked with her and got her set up in a different location, or at least paid her on time and for a good price, but no.
It just proves the old adage; "You can never go home again". Reading comment here before watching. I always wondered what or who killed off Poncho's. It should have been saved for historical significance alone.
She was definitely a woman ahead of her time. Compared to LA, there isn't much out in Rosamond even today, so one can only imagine how primitive it was back in the 40's and 50's. Panchos Happy Bottom Riding Club must have been a Godsend for those who had a chance to visit the place.
Most of these guys are gone now. I imagine Heaven is Ponchos were all the pilots are there having wonderful time welcoming everybody comes through the door. That's where these guys go when they die.
@@harpoon_bakery162 No, That is not all. She lost it all, never managed to rebuild her ranch in another area, and died fairly destitute and alone in a tiny, dirt-floor house. It was a sad and lonely ending to such an amazing life.
@@barrygrant2907 -- they received 430,000 dollars for the settlement (her and Mac). So they both had income and Mac had military benefits and insurance. So they were well off. Can you imagine how much 430,000 dollars was back then? It was a windfall for them. That was received over a 5 year period, instilling in them budgeting and keeping them very happy.
@@harpoon_bakery162 You need to read her entire life story, She died destitute and alone, her decomposing body found several days after her death. She'd been in poor health--cancer-- for quite a while. Believe me, her best days ended with the Happy Bottom Club. It went downhill after that.
@@harpoon_bakery162 You can read about her not so happy ending on this site: forgottennewsmakers.com/2011/03/16/pancho-barnes-1901-%e2%80%93-1975-pilot-proprietor-partier/ It's her whole history, but you might want to go to the last couple paragraphs about her unhappy ending.
It was unfortunate the way it worked out but Pancho's had to go, the ranch was a security nightmare with all all the Hollywood/commie trash. I understand the frustration the base commander must have felt about having his test pilots getting drunk and injuring themselves then testing experimental aircraft hung over. Then having Pancho barging into his office acting like she owned the place making demands.
Many a young girl ventured there to meet a pilot. Wishing to get hitched an be set for life. Pancho had to ok each and every young lady. It was almost like a den of inequity, well it was.
Well, before these guys arrived it was railroad stop town called Muroc, there were homesteaders already living there, and across the lake bed a 75 to 80 Army Personnel were living in Wood framed Hut tents maintaining the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range. It was until Dec 8 thru the 10th 1941, that most of them were transferred to the more permanent buildings located on the Southern portion of the Rogers Lake.
LISTEN CLOSE AND CAREFULLY TO WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS SAY YOUNGSTERS FOR THIS IS THE CRADLE OF THE AVIATION WE KNOW TODAY! THANK THE LORD FOR PONCHO AND HER BOYS!
Stephen Troup Yes yes he is yelling. Yes yes social media posters do not like yelling. But the person has something to say and wants us to hear it. You finicky people are more annoying than the people who are yelling. Give it a rest
Hammer, don't YELL! The internet, like the rest of humanity, has protocols that are observed for the common good. Not walking into a place and yelling at the top of your lungs is one of them. Capisce?
The first to exceed the speed of sound was actually German pilot Hans Guido Mutke whilst diving on a P-51 Mustang in a Messerschmitt 262 jet in 1945. He described reaching a speed of over 680 mph in the dive, with buffeting and then smooth silent flight, and then buffeting again as speed reduced. This was described before those supersonic characteristics were well known. Later wind tunnel tests confirmed the 262 could obtain supersonic flight in a dive.
Mark French : yes, thats the historic record, but the records in Germany did not come out until later. I believe Yeager has the record for level flight supersonic flight, but unlikely to be the first man to break the sound barrier ...many allied pilots came close in power dives but didn’t survive the breakup at the sound barrier. The German 262 pilot described the sensations of accelerating through and back, and was in an aircraft that was later wind tunneled to show the 262 was capable of supersonic flight in a dive.
Many of the hotels used by Air Force/Defense contractors still exist in Rosamond CA. Rosamond is the last dusty area you go through on your way to Edwards. I do not think many would like those accomodations today as they are really run down now.
They were pretty new at the time and some of them had bars for the gents to get a drink before they had to go to bed. They all had TV Sets as well. Indeed , it's VERY dusty. Edwards (Muroc) was very dusty too and out in the middle of nowheresville
Note the film was done in 1994, she died in 1975. There may not be any film of her still in existence since all her mementos were destroyed in the explosion and fire of the hotel/club.
@@bobmartin4942 -- wow, interesting. yea, i bet she kept clips and some film. Since she was tied to hollywood and had connections, she probably had a lot of film of her flights and races. What a shame that it was sabotaged (or "accidentally" lost).
@@harpoon_bakery162 did you happen to see n the film a little discussion of the fire that burned her place to the ground? According to her husband they lost everything in the fire including pictures,awards etc.....I’m sure that has a little to do with there being no items in relation to her life. As for the military members having pics etc.....Edwards AFB was a top secret installation and security was extremely tight. I’m sure those pilots weren’t exactly walking around with cameras around their necks
How can anybody who flys any type of airplane not know about Pancho Barnes? There is a story about how she got her nick name. It had to do with her disguising herself as a man on the Mexican coast so as not to be assaulted by Mexican smugglers, or something like that? All things considered, she was one hell of woman and pilot. Amelia Earhardt got all the glory because of her publisher husband, but Pancho Barnes could do what Earhardt couldn't do. Barnes and another female aviator by the name of Eleanor Smith, were the true original female aviators with the gift of natural flying. I would have loved to have met both of those women, but when the Happy Bottom Riding Club was in operation I was only 4 years old! Rest in peace Pancho Barnes and Eleanor Smith. You both will always be remembered especially by older aviators. Does anybody know where Pancho Barnes and Eleanor Smith are buried?
Excuse me,but you left out what Thaddeus Low did. He is the father of military aviation. He rode in a tethered balloon and sent messages concerning confederate troops.
I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz When an old friend I happened to see I introduced her to my loved one and while they were dancin' My friend stole my sweetheart from me
Yes Pancho Barnes taught all the male pilots everything they knew. She shot down Adolph Hitler in a P-51. She was the first American to walk on the Moon. But she didn't run a whore house.
Here is some irony...this film was funded by The Department of Defense...of which The United States Air Force is part of...the same United States Air Force that Pancho SUED(via the Commanding General of Edwards AFB) and barely got $400,000 for her ranch(which mysteriously blew up...yea right)...Just wondering ... How much did this "Tribute Film" cost the the US Government????...bet it was A LOT MORE THAN $400,000...LOL...Pancho wins in the long game.😂...Great lady...great life...great piece of American History.
@Mark Grudt yea, Muroc was the name no matter what the documentary said. And it was not a brothel either. There were some entertainers there before it burnt down but it was a long drive for many of them, and some would stay weekends, but talk about being mischaracterized, wow.
Bureaucrats have an insidious way of rising above their station. If there was a flight path safety issue you would think the government could agree to move the ranch out of harms way like they do with entire townships when a hydroelectric powerstation is built. Maybe that could still happen, life is short, and the big aerospace companies could dig into their petty cash and do something cool?
