HELP!!!!

StephenLawson · 22 January 2004, 11:15 AM

Help!!! We have been robbed!!! The Lafayette Foundation in Denver CO has been robbed. A priceless EhrenBecker has been stolen! Ltn. Gustav Leffers victory cup engraved amd marked has been stolen. We would like to ask your help to find this valuable piece of aviation history. While we search for this relic locally we realize that there may be someone out there trying to sell it. It was on display at Wings Over the Rockies aviation and space museum. It is also obvious to many that someone had to know how to get in the secured case and have the time to do it. We need your help with this matter. Anyone having any information should contact me prsonnally. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. Stephen T. Lawson Archivist to the Lafayette Foundation Denver CO.

wolfenbill · 23 January 2004, 07:19 AM

Any chance of a picture being posted? Is it similar to Richthofen's cups?

pmirl · 30 January 2004, 12:29 AM

Stephen,
Any word on this yet?

Paul

StephenLawson · 30 January 2004, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wolfenbill@Jan 23 2004, 08:19 AM
[b] Any chance of a picture being posted? Is it similar to Richthofen's cups?

Wolfenbill; The Ehrenbecker was the 'initial victory' cup awarded by the German govt to all pilots. It stands approx 9' tall. This example was the silver type. Embossed with two eagles dueling. Fortunately this one is engraved.

pmirl; not yet but the FBI is involved. We are a non-profit organization and the cup has a high value. Since it was stolen from the premises of a Federally protected museum, (Wings over the Rockies) and our status with the IRS we qualify for the FBI investigation. Personally I don't care how long it takes. If I find the bas...d who took it he'll soon be missing his thumbs. I have no doubt its probably in somebodies private collection now.

But here's a word to the thief. I will find you, you can bet on that and when I do, you better have police protection.

pmirl · 31 January 2004, 12:02 AM

Stephen, I hope they catch him in California. You can send him to my prison and I'll take "special" care of him for you!

Paul

Ginger. · 31 January 2004, 02:40 AM

Stephen,
hope this cheers you up a bit at the prosect of getting the cup back. Remember 'A Bridge Too Far', Johnny Frost at Arnhem bridge end blowing his hunting horn to rally the troops? After the battle Dutch civilians were made to clear up the devestation round the bridge. One of them found the hunting horn in the rubble and kept it. In the early nineties he donated it to the Hartenstein Airborne Museum where it was, with great publicity, put on display. It was promptly stolen ( maybe to order?) by a similar turd in human form like the one that has got your cup. Several months later the horn was returned anonomously. What could the thief do with it? He could not show it off to fellow collectors, neither could he sell it on to a reputable collector.
Here's hoping that the same thing happens with your Victory Cup.

Cigogne · 31 January 2004, 10:57 AM

Stephen,

Please send me a photo of it and an edited write up (or if you want me to use your oringinal posted from this site) and I'll see that it gets in to the Spring Issue of OTF in the "Mentioned in Despatches" column.

you can send it to my email address: ziggurat@gte.net