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[[image - black & white photograph of Lt. Alvin J. Downing]]

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND of "OPERATIONS HAPPINESS"

In the summer of 1947, Lieutenant Alvin J. Downing, special service officer of Lockburne Air Force Base, conceived a rather unique idea for stimulating on base entertainment for troops. He planned for a series of talent shows after the regular Friday movies.

Each week a different squadron was charged with the responsibility of entertaining the entire base. After each unit had presented its show, an award was given for the best shows. Lieutenant Downing then selected the best talent from the unit revues and tied it all in a gigantic three hour show "Operations Enjoyment."

The first presentation of "Operations Enjoyment" was so successful that a repeat performance was demanded. The second engagement was given as a benefit performance for the purchase of athletic equipment.

Credit for the success of "Operations Enjoyment" can be attributed also to Private First class Calvin Manuel, not only for his stellar performance but his excellence in show. Technical Sergeant George B. Pugh was responsible for training the chorus girls, known in "Operations Happiness" as the "Rockettes."

In August 1948, Colonel Joseph F. Goetz, chief of entertainment section USAF, visited Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr., commanding officer of Lockbourne Air Force Base. Colonel Davis took him to see the show and so profound was the effect upon Colonel Goetz that he immediately set out to interest USAF in booking and presenting such a show on a large scale. 

Colonel Goetz chose for himself a tremendous job. Financial backing was only one of his major problems. After two months of reorganizing, recasting, script writing, staging, training, rehearsing and professionalizing, the ubiquitous Colonel opened an eight thousand dollar production of Lockburne Air Force Base on November 1948. "Operation Happiness" has since that date more than justified the confidence and labor expended by Colonel Joseph "Billy Rose" Goetz, Lieutenant Alvin J. Downing and Private First Class Calvin Manuel.