MvR victory cups in New Zealand?

lonestarson · 2 June 2007, 10:45 AM

While reading an advertisement for the Omaka New Zealand Aviation Heritage Center, I was surprised to see that they claim to have 2 of MvR's silver victory cups. One of them is supposed to be No. 11, the one for Lanoe Hawker. Anyone have any information on this?

FliegerJG1 · 2 June 2007, 11:17 AM

I haven't seen these myself however someone who visited the museum during the Omaka air show in April this year informed me that 2 of Manfred's silver cups were on display at that time.

Blue skies,

FliegerJG1

jonightflyer · 2 June 2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonestarson

I was surprised to see that they claim to have 2 of MvR's silver victory cups. One of them is supposed to be No. 11, the one for Lanoe Hawker. Anyone have any information on this?

There are two victory cups there, one large and one small but very difficult to photograph due to reflections from the glass cabinets. I did however manage to get a reasonable shot of some of MvR's other personal silverware that resides in the museum.

jonightflyer · 2 June 2007, 12:28 PM

Also the panel that was cut from his red triplane by Australian troops on the day of his death.

jamo · 2 June 2007, 12:56 PM

It has been updated but would still benefit from more information about the background/provenance of each aircraft exhibited. The MvR artifacts are at the bottom:

http://www.aviationmarlborough.com/oahc/exhibits.shtml

Overall the display has a stunning display of WWI aviation exhibits and if you are a member of this forum I would definitely recommend a visit!

Cheers
James

lonestarson · 3 June 2007, 04:46 AM

Many thanks to everyone for their replies. I guess this puts to rest those stories about MvR's victory cups being hauled off to Russia.

Aerowallah · 5 June 2007, 07:29 PM

OH NO IT DOESN'T!!!

We've just had a spate of MvR materiel for auction in Germany, and it probably came from Russia...Russian workshops. The story is very murky and money, too much of it, only complicates the picture.

Maxim08 · 19 June 2007, 03:26 PM

lonestarson
I saw the cups at Omaka and, yes, they have number 11.
My specific interest in visiting was the DH2 and I was very surprised to discover that the Lanoe Hawker cup was there. It was quite sobering. The cup is only about 3" high and very plain. Not much of a marker for one man's life.
Regards,
John

PFFF · 19 June 2007, 05:04 PM

These are famous "CUPS"????
Do the photographs of MVR room showing his victory tropies-show the cups as well?

lonestarson · 19 June 2007, 11:01 PM

True, a small silver cup isn't much of a marker for a human life, but I think Major Hawker's place in history is assured, even without any large monuments. So there is the possibility that these cups are forgeries? I didn't realize that there was that big of a market for MvR memorabilia.