Famous Flier Of War Times Laid To Rest
Pittsburgh. —(AP)— Col.
William Thaw II, war-time D'Artagnan of the skies, sleeps today in a soldier's grave and among his souvenirs rests the "Bottle of Death"—treasured possession of the Lafayette Escadrille.
The Colonel, one of the two survivors of the original Escadrille, a dashing group of American fliers who fought for France before America entered the World war, died of pneumonia and was buried late yesterday.
Relatives, viewing his collection of trophies, discovered the "Bottle of Death," which bears the signatures of many dead aces of the outfit.
The quart flask, containing 80-year-old American bourbon whiskey, was sent to Major M. Thenault, French commander of the group, by a younger brother.
Each time an Escadrille flier shot down an enemy plane he was entitled to one drink from the bottle. [
Raoul Lufbery ], a French-American member, aroused by the death of a companion, took off alone one day. When he returned he received six drinks—the most one ace ever won in a day.
The Sheboygan Press - Tuesday, April 24, 1934
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