Air Force History Appraisal

Ninth Air Force NCO-Club Bar-Book, Erding Germany

This item is a vintage military currency booklet used at the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club in Erding, Germany, assigned to the United States Ninth Air Force. The physical construction consists of a rectangular cardboard or heavy paper stock cover in a faded salmon-pink or light tan hue, fastened with a single metal staple on the left-hand margin. The dimensions are consistent with standard mid-20th-century ticket books or pocket-sized chits. The front cover features bold black serif typography including the text 'PRICE 2.50 DOLLARS', 'NINTH AIR FORCE NCO-CLUB', and a large 'BAR-BOOK' header. Below the location 'ERDING GERMANY' is a cautionary note stating 'TICKETS NOT VALID IF DETACHED'. A specific serial number, 'No 05307', is stamped in red-orange at the bottom left, while the word 'REDEEMABLE' appears in the bottom right corner. The condition shows significant signs of age and handled use, including blunted and frayed corners, surface soiling, and minor staining particularly along the bottom edge. There is visible surface wear across the cover and a small tear at the base of the left stapled edge. This item likely dates to the post-WWII occupation period (late 1940s to early 1950s) when the Ninth Air Force was active in Europe. These books functioned as a form of scrip to control spending and alcohol consumption on base, representing a unique piece of military social history and occupational ephemera from the Cold War era.