Eaker Cup donated

Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder Jr., Eighth Air Force commander, accepts the donation of one of the nine Eaker Bowl cups from Mr. Charles Jones Jr. on Thursday, June 5th. Mr. Jones’ father, Lt. Col. (ret.) Charles Jones Sr., was one of the nine original members of the famous Castle Coombe Mess. General Ira C. Eaker, who first commanded Eighth Air Force in England during World War II, established the Castle Coombe Mess, which purchased the Eaker Bowl and cups with the optimistic vision of conducting post-war reunions. The donation of the cup by Mr. Jones, who also served in World War II, is the fifth silver cup donated to Eighth Air Force, with the remaining four cups kept by the respective family members as a cherished memento of their link to World War II history. General Elder was accompanied by two former Eighth Air Force commanders, Lt. Gen. (ret.) E.G. "Buck" Shuler Jr. and Lt. gen. (ret.) Edgar S. Harris Jr., who originally accepted the donation of the bowl, ladle, and his cup from General Eaker in 1981. The Eaker Bowl is a physical piece of the Mighty Eighth’s history which occupies a place of honor at Eighth Air Force headquarters as a heraldic symbol of sterling service to the nation, comradeship, and optimism about the future by those who have served with The Mighty Eighth. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Rob Goza)