Blast from the Past

Chapter member Art Dolick often brings intriguing relics from our SF past to meetings, and at this one, he brought a real standout—a “Beer Can Bazooka.” In the late ’70s, while assigned to the 12th Special Forces Group and stationed in isolation in Arkansas, one inventive team member with a weapons MOS built the bazooka from empty beer—and likely soda—cans. It launched tennis balls using three squirts of lighter fluid sprayed into the tube, plus a bit extra sprayed into a small ignition port near the handle (faintly visible in the photo). A lighter did the rest. According to Art, it packed enough punch to knock someone out if they were unlucky enough to be in the line of fire. When the team was done with it, Art claimed it as a souvenir.

Many thanks to Art for continuing to share pieces from his remarkable collection—always a highlight of our meetings.