Warbird Information Exchange

One of my questions last night, as I watched the ceremony feed online was this...

What happened with the rest of the bottle? I MOST sincerely hope that some was sent to Nashville for Robert Hite to taste, but that left a lot.

I MOST sincerely hope that it wasn't given to 'dignitaries' attending the event. They didn't earn it. You don't get 'elected' to partake of such a rare thing.

I suppose my best-case scenario would be that it was shared among the families of the departed Raiders in attendance, as they had more standing with it than political types.

I also would have been alright with the Hennessey rep getting a sample if there was legitimate research they wanted to do with it since in his speech, he mentioned that it was an unusual bottle.

Anyone know?

And yes, I realize I may be taking it all a bit too seriously, but in my mind there are only 80 men who sincerely earned the right to taste that cognac, but even 76 of THEM (assuming some went to Nashville) never got the chance.

_________________
"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

_________________
“PMURT KCUF”

My wife and I wondered the same thing and we hoped that it did indeed go to the families.

I feel very fortunate to have shook hands and had my picture taken with Robert Griffin and Dick Cole down in Pungo in 2012. I'll always treasure that moment and the CV Glines book they signed.

Chappie

_________________
Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

I think it'd been appropriate to re-cork or re-seal the bottle and return it to the display where it will continue to tell the story once all the goblets are turned.

It was awfully generous of the Raiders to share their toast with the public. While I enjoyed watching the moment as much as any aviation buff, I couldn't help but think that, what probably should have been a very private moment, was made into a scripted public event. I would assume that the three men had an opportunity to visit quietly - but this was a big deal for them and it was not lost on me that their stereotypical unselfishness carried right on through with this toast. God Bless the Raiders!

Ken

PS: it is well documented that the original bottle was stolen while at the AF Academy in 1971, so the bottle that was opened was still a genuine 1896 cognac ... but not "the" original; they say it was never located.

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Somehow I always imagined the remaining Raiders opening the bottle and toasting their comrades quietly, without fanfare, in a private setting (just them)...without the rest of us even knowing it was happening...

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Why would the guy lie then? he said the original bottle was never put on display, but that a stand in bottle was always on display since the beginning.

_________________
Tyler Pinkerton
Active Member of Air Heritage Inc. of Beaver Falls, PA.
Aircraft: C47B, C-123K, Fairchild F-24, Funk Model B, L-21B, T-28B, T-34B
Static: F-4C Phantom II, F-15A, T-3 Provost

i'll bet it was smoooooth!! my dad gave me a 40 year old bottle of courvosia cognac & it was awesome, but no where near what the raider's bottle must have been like!!

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Not sure and I am not saying anyone lied. Maybe the replacement bottle was kept in a safe place and the stand-in was viewed form 1971 to today? I'm just don't have any inside knowledge beyond what has been reported over the years.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Well said, this is what I hand always imagined as well, perhaps these fine patriots thought the moment belonged to those they served.

I like the re-corking idea. Then put the bottle in a fitting museum for all to see and remember the legacy.

Didn't they say during the ceremony that the original bottle has always been secretly kept by one of the Raiders?

77 minutes in.

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/307435/do ... oFcuCoo7IV

Mike

_________________

That was indeed what was said.

Thanks for providing the time mark for the cognac comments. It would be nice to think that the bottle stolen in 1971 was a dummy and that may help explain Doolittle's supposedly cavalier attitude toward the theft. The story goes on that the stolen bottle was replaced by another 1896 vintage, but not the "extra special" variety. Maybe some photos will surface of the various bottles - as they say "it is what it is" but I am curious to know what really happened. The toast itself could have been made with tap water for all I care; it was great seeing Cole, Saylor, and Thatcher together again. Heroes all.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

I would not have minded if the entire bottle was drank on the spot surrounded by FREE Americans with a toast to each member of the Raiders one at a time until the entire roster was covered. (Of course the bottle wasn't that big, but the point is the same)

When we lose one of these great people from the Greatest Generation, I am not as sad as consoled that they survived the war, lived life, raised families, ran businesses, and built America, never forgot their fellow serviceperson and died peacefully in their sleep hopefully at home. Not a jungle of a foreign land, in the air or sea. They completed their contract with America that they swore to uphold and we should be proud and thankful of their service. We miss them dearly but by passing away from old age means they won their war.

MSgt (Ret.) Kelly Jamison
C-130 Flight Engineer
USAF 1988-2012

well said. very eloquent reply.

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!