October 29, 1991: The Tailhook Scandal Is Exposed

A demonstration after the exposure of the scandal

October 29, 1991: The Tailhook Scandal is exposed. It was one of the earliest "Me Too" stories.

A tailhook, arresting hook, or arrester hook, is a device attached to the rear of some military fixed-wing aircraft. The hook is used to achieve rapid deceleration during routine landings aboard aircraft carrier flight decks at sea, or during emergency landings or aborted takeoffs at properly equipped airports. The Tailhook Association is a non-profit organization supporting the interests of sea-based aviation, with emphasis on aircraft carriers.

The 35th Annual Tailhook Association Symposium was held at the Las Vegas Hilton from September 5 to 8, 1991. The Gulf War ad taken place earlier in the year, and over 11 hours of presentations and discussion concerning U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation operations in the conflict were to be the central focus for the 4,000 attendees.

Before the Symposium was over aviation officers were alleged to have sexually assaulted up to 83 women and 7 men, or otherwise engaged in "improper and indecent" conduct.

This scandal broke in the immediate aftermath of the Clarence Thomas hearings, and the reaction of American women was one of disgust. Something had to be done.

Not much was done: Approximately 40 naval and Marine officers received non-judicial punishment, mainly for conduct unbecoming an officer and false official statements. Three officers were taken to courts-martial, but their cases were dismissed. No officers were disciplined for the alleged sexual assaults.

The aftermath resulted in sweeping changes throughout all military services in the Department of Defense regarding attitudes and policies toward women.

The Las Vegas Hilton was originally the International Hotel, where Elvis held court from 1969 to 1977. It's now the Westgate Las Vegas.

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October 29, 1991 was a Tuesday. The baseball season had ended 2 days earlier, when the Minnesota Twins won Game 7, and thus the World Series, over the Atlanta Braves. Football was in midweek. The NBA season began 3 days later. There were 5 games in the NHL:

* The New York Rangers beat the Minnesota North Stars, 3-2 at Madison Square Garden.

* The New York Islanders beat the San Jose Sharks, 8-4 at the Nassau Coliseum.

* The New Jersey Devils lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 4-3 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

* The Quebec Nordiques beat the Winnipeg Jets, 7-2 at the Colisée de Québec. Owen Nolan had a hat trick.

* And the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-0 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.