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My father-in-law was a B-17 pilot based in England during WWII. He flew many missions but the story he most frequently told goes like this.
One day between missions, he went into an antique shop in London and purchased a silver tea pot as a gift to his wife who was back in Connecticut. He left the pot with the shop owner to have it engraved, tucked the receipt into his jacket and hurried back to the base to make his scheduled mission. Upon returning from the mission, he mistakenly left his jacket on the plane. Another crew was assigned to his plane and unfortunately, the B-17, it's crew and his jacket with the receipt in it were lost over enemy territory.
Five or six years later, in 1950, a friend of my father-in-law told him he was taking a trip to London. My Father-in-law asked the friend if he could stop in to the antique shop to see if they still had the tea pot. Upon inquiring at the shop, the proprietor went into the back and came out with the nicely engraved teapot.
I heard this story many times, most proudly by the person who picked up the pot.
One day between missions, he went into an antique shop in London and purchased a silver tea pot as a gift to his wife who was back in Connecticut. He left the pot with the shop owner to have it engraved, tucked the receipt into his jacket and hurried back to the base to make his scheduled mission. Upon returning from the mission, he mistakenly left his jacket on the plane. Another crew was assigned to his plane and unfortunately, the B-17, it's crew and his jacket with the receipt in it were lost over enemy territory.
Five or six years later, in 1950, a friend of my father-in-law told him he was taking a trip to London. My Father-in-law asked the friend if he could stop in to the antique shop to see if they still had the tea pot. Upon inquiring at the shop, the proprietor went into the back and came out with the nicely engraved teapot.
I heard this story many times, most proudly by the person who picked up the pot.
