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"Castle Coombe Mess" cup donated

  • Published
  • By Captain Rob Goza
  • Eighth Air Force Public Affairs
Montgomery, Ala. --  In 1943, nine officers stood together with famous World War II Gen. Ira C. Eaker in England's Castle Coombe, silver cups raised to the audacious hope of history-making victory and to the equally optimistic hope that when the war ended they would gather to conduct reunions celebrating that victory. As audacious as those hopes seemed at the time, both hopes were made reality when the Allies achieved victory and the nine members of the Mess remained friends long after the war, conducting annual reunions of General Eaker's closest wartime teammates. Eventually the "Castle Coombe Group" reunions grew to approximately 50 officers, including General Eaker's life-long friend, Gen. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
More than 60 years later, four officers gathered to commemorate the victory that members of the famous Eighth Air Force Castle Coombe Officer's Mess had hoped for, and to accept the donation of one of the nine silver cups of the Castle Coombe Mess to Eighth Air Force. Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, Eighth Air Force Commander, traveled to the home Mr. Charles A. Jones Jr. to accept the donation with former Eighth Air Force Commanders, Lt. Gen. (ret) E.G. "Buck" Shuler and Lt. Gen. (ret) Edgar S. Harris also in attendance. Mr. Jones, who also served in World War II, donated the cup in honor of his father's World War II service - Lt. Col. (ret) Charles A. Jones Sr. served under General Eaker as one of the nine original members of the Castle Coombe Group. Mr. Jones, now 85 years old, discovered the cup among his father's war-time mementoes after his father passed away.
"I wish that Dad would have passed this cup on, but we just found it by accident. My second wife's son works at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, and he came across an article about it," Jones said.
Until now, the Eighth Air Force history office has maintained the original punchbowl and four of the nine cups. Mr. Jones' discovery and donation of his father's cup is the fifth cup donated to Eighth Air Force.
"The donation of the fifth cup reinforces the bond of history of today's Eighth Air Force with its founding generation," said Mr. Lane Callaway, Eighth Air Force historian. "It is believed that the four remaining cups are kept by family members as a cherished memento of their link to World War II history. "
The Eaker Bowl and cups are physical artifacts of the Mighty Eighth's history and serve as a heraldic symbol of sterling service to the nation, comradeship, and optimism about the future for all those who serve with the Mighty Eighth, explained Mr. Callaway.
All three Eighth Air Force commanders thanked Mr. Jones for donating the cup.
"All of us are keenly aware of the significance of this cup. The Eaker Bowl and cups have always occupied a place of honor right outside the Eighth Air Force commander's office," General Shuler told Mr. Jones.
"The only time we move the Eaker Bowl is once a year," General Elder said. "There's an event at the Air Force Museum with all of the three and four star generals, who each bring a heraldic device representative of their organization. Eighth Air Force's heraldic symbol is special because it is a real historical artifact,"
"It is so generous of you to share this with the Eighth Air Force and for posterity," General Harris said. General Harris accepted General Eaker's original donation of the bowl, ladle, and first cup in 1981.
General Eaker, who famously commanded Eighth Air Force in England during World War II, established the Castle Coombe Mess, which purchased the Eaker Bowl and cups. General Eaker saw he would need to host events fostering relations with British dignitaries and to entertain distinguished visitors from America. His foresight and hospitality were noted as contributing to one of the pivotal events in airpower history, the daylight bombing campaign in a 1943 Time Magazine article entitled "Victory is in the Air." The article states that "[w]ith this, his own brand of diplomacy, Eaker broke down British reserve, made of his R.A.F. colleagues not only willing allies but firm friends. British skepticism of U.S. daylight-bombing theories was overcome. Day or night bombing long ago ceased to be an issue between the U.S. and British air leaders."
Mr. Callaway believes that the importance of the Eaker Bowl, as a historic artifact, is matched only by its symbolic importance to Eighth Air Force.
"A heraldic device defines the unique heritage and character of a military organization. For Eighth Air Force, the Eaker Bowl is the tangible link to its storied past," Mr. Callaway said. "It physically symbolizes the integrity, service, and excellence of those who served with the Mighty Eighth at the beginning of its existence in World War II as well as through the years to those who are serving in this historic unit today."
Thanks to Mr. Jones, the fifth cup now occupies a place of honor with the Eaker Bowl alongside the four other cups at Eighth Air Force headquarters. The Eaker Bowl and all five cups are kept inside a protective display cabinet, on a wooden base engraved with the name of each Eighth Air Force commander all the way back to General Eaker.



Historical Significance of the punch bowl
(From Eighth Air Force Historian's Office)
The Castle Coombe Mess Punch Bowl is a heraldic symbol for the Eighth Air Force. This silver set symbolizes sterling service to the Nation, comradeship, and optimism about the future shared by those who have served and are serving with The Mighty Eighth Air Force.
* Sterling service to the Nation: Castle Coombe became the residence for General Eaker as Commander, Eighth Air Force in England. General Eaker's provided inspirational leadership. His energy and efforts went into building-up Eighth Air Force, taking the air battle to the enemy, and proving the concept of high altitude daylight precision strategic bombing.
* Comradeship: At Castle Coombe, General Eaker created a "Mess" not only to entertain visiting British and American distinguished visitors, but also to foster camaraderie and solidarity among his wartime teammates. This comradeship lasted well into the postwar years.
* Optimism about the future: In late 1943, upon becoming the Commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, General Eaker closed the Mess and purchased an engraved silver punch bowl, ladle, and a cup for each of the nine Mess members with the optimistic vision of conducting post-war reunions.

Members of the Mess 
(From Eighth Air Force Historian's Office)
There were nine members of the Castle Coombe Mess when it broke up in 1943 and whose names are engraved on the Eaker Bowl are listed by military rank.
Lt General Ira C. Eaker: (Cup is present.) Departs England to become Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (composed of 12th and 15th U.S. Army Air Forces, British Desert Air Force, and British Balkan Air Force). Served as Deputy Commander, Army Air Forces and Chief of the Air Staff from April 1945 until 1947. Retires on 31 August 1947 becoming an executive of an aircraft manufacturing company and author of a weekly newspaper column on aviation and several books. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal in 1978 for his contributions to aviation development. By special Congressional legislation, promoted to full General in 1985; 38 years after his retirement. Passes away in 1987 at age 91.
Colonel Peter Beasley: As a Major, one of the six officers accompanying General Eaker to England in 1942. Commissioned from civilian life from the executive ranks of Lockheed Aircraft Company. Colonel Beasley initially fulfilled duties as a plans and liaison specialist but later becomes chief of A-4 (Supply), VIII Bomber Command and later accompanies Eaker to Eight Air Force headquarters.
Colonel Robert G. Ervin: (Cup is present.) Joins the Castle Coombe group and later becomes a Brigadier General and Chairman, Joint Air Commission fielding P-47 and B-26 aircraft to the reconstituted French Air Force.
Colonel Cecil P. "Brick" Lessig: (Cup is present.) Arrived in England as a Major on the Advance Party in January 1942 and subsequently becomes a Brigadier General. Initially becomes Eaker's A-3 Division Chief for Organization and Movements in VIII Bomber Command and later moves with him to Eighth Air Force headquarters. In 1943 Lessig is reassigned to Washington, D.C. to work directly for General Hap Arnold.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Jones: (Cup is present.) Until recently, no biographical information was known about Colonel Jones. His son, Mr. Charles Jones Jr., also a World War II veteran, recently donated his father's cup in memory of his father's wartime service.
Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Jackson: A businessman from Medford, Oregon who impressed Eaker at the start of the war for his energy and talents in getting tasks done. Station by mid-1943 in England, Jackson became a member of the Castle Coombe Mess. Jackson departed England for the Mediterranean command where he becomes Eaker's Headquarters Commandant in Italy attaining the rank of Colonel. Upon his death in 1980, Jackson is saluted as "Mr. Oregon" for his great successes in business (newspapers and utilities) and public service. Jackson nurtured Eaker's desire to take up journalism after the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Beirne Lay, Jr: (Cup is present). As a Lieutenant, one of the six officers accompanying Eaker to England in 1942. Initially fulfills the roles of senior aide-de-camp and historian at VIII Bomber Command. Lay accompanies Eaker to Eighth Air Force headquarters. Lay's first hand observations of General Eaker and the buildup of Eighth Air Force in England and eye witness reports of aerial combat in August 1943 as an observer accompanying Colonel Curtis LeMay on the Eighth's air strike against the ball-bearing plants at Regensburg become the base for a post-war book he co-authored, entitled Twelve O'Clock High. On 24 February 1944, Lay becomes the Commander, 487th Bomb Group, a B-24 unit of The Mighty Eighth and is shot down over France on 11 May 1944. He parachuted to safety and evaded capture. After the war, Lay is a co-screenwriter of the movie, "Twelve O'Clock High" starring Gregory Peck.
Lieutenant Colonel James Parton: Is one of General Eaker's aide-de-camps in England and later in Italy becomes secretary to the general staff and historian. Parton is with Eaker at the VIII Bomber Command, moves with the General to Eighth Air Force, and later accompanies the General to the headquarters of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Parton becomes General Eaker's confidant and authorized biographer and writes the book entitled: Air Force Spoken Here, General Ira Eaker and the Command of the Air. Also after the war, Parton becomes the West Coast editorial director for Time, Life, and Fortune magazines.
Major Clarence O. Mason: Initially served as the mess officer at Pinetree, wartime code name for Headquarters, VIII Bomber Commander and later Eighth Air Force. Major Mason also served on the team writing the history of the Eighth Air Force during General Eaker's tenure as commander and later served as aide-de-camp when Eaker becomes Commander, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.