XB-70 "Crash Artifact" on Ebay

Ztex · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:58 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/North-American-Aviation-XB-70-Crash-Artifact_W0QQitemZ330090287119QQihZ014QQcategoryZ419QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't think I like the idea of this kind of stuff...IMHO
Z

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:13 pm

I think it is O.K. as long as it is frome a respectable person, and that the crash was not fatal. If it was fatal, then it is kind of like a memorial. I own a piece of the NF-104 that Yeager bailed out of.

Ztex · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:38 pm

Quote:

and that the crash was not fatal

It was fatal...Major Carl Cross went down with the airplane...and Joe Walker died in the F-104.

http://area51specialprojects.com/xb70_crash.html

gregv · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:39 pm

If the idea is to go to the trouble to research and track down a historic crash site, then dig around and find a piece of the aircraft, and then treat it with the respect and reverence it deserves then I think that should be OK.

If the idea is to make a quick buck or two from it on ebay then I personally feel that that is not OK. Then again, perhaps whomever buys it will treat it properly, so who knows. Is it any different from buying a WWII German helmet that someone probably died wearing?

http://www.bands-militaria.com/index.ph ... em_id=2614

At any rate my knee-jerk reaction would be that it is simply making a profit from a tragic event, but that could prove to be too fine of a line to draw. After all, aircraft that have been involved in fatal accidents are frequently restored...

Just my 2 cents.

greg v.

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

Anyone here bidding? I'm thinking of getting it for MAPS

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:59 pm

Not exactly the same thing, but it reminds me of the Doolittle reunions that we hosted in Fresno. There would be these guys who would bug the 80 year old Doolittle Raiders all day long for all of these autographs and then on Monday I would see all of this autographed programs etc on eBay. Those guys are such jerks who bug people for autographs and pretend that they are getting them because they respect them and then they just sell the stuff the next day.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:29 am

Ztex, I know the XB-70 crash was fatal (I volunteer near the other XB-70), I just meant in general. As for selling signed stuff from vets in that manner is not cool. AS a matter in fact, when I talked to Yeager he told me that it is one of the reasons why he doesn't sign that much stuff in public anymore. He signs stuff for a kid that goes home and put sit on ebay, and sells it for a bunch of money.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:22 am

rwdfresno wrote:

Not exactly the same thing, but it reminds me of the Doolittle reunions that we hosted in Fresno. There would be these guys who would bug the 80 year old Doolittle Raiders all day long for all of these autographs and then on Monday I would see all of this autographed programs etc on eBay. Those guys are such jerks who bug people for autographs and pretend that they are getting them because they respect them and then they just sell the stuff the next day.

AMEN! I HATE those types. Yes, I run something related to the Raiders, but NONE of the stuff I sell is autographed. I've been to a few of those reunions, and half the people in the autograph lines don't know or care but to "make their book more valuble." It almost made me sick last time. Yes I have a few books signed by them, but those books are not for sale. Those books are the ones I will save and hopefully pass on to my future children and grandchildren when I tell them about the true American heroes that I had the privilege of talking with, and interviewing (some of them).

My first introduction to a Doolittle Raider - the Late Harry McCool was with the Yellow Rose at Stinson back in the late '80s or early '90s. I'm on the left.

Ryan

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:51 am

Quote:

I know the XB-70 crash was fatal (I volunteer near the other XB-70), I just meant in general

Sorry, I misunderstood you.

I understand the souvenir hunter/gatherer mentality. I have a few artifacts in my collection of stuff that falls into this category...I have autographs, a piece of wreckage, a burned item, a war trophy etc. These things were given to me or collected by me without "paying" for them.

I have a Sam Houston and a Santa Anna signed peices that I bought from a paper dealer...I wasn't around when those guys signed so maybe that is an exception that I can live with.

Auotgraph hound resellers make me ill...

Z

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:52 am

One of my most prized posessions...a model I built of Gabreski's P-47 that he was gracious enough to autograph at the 2001 IPMS National Convention. His two crew chiefs also autographed the belly (it was the first and probably only time they'd been together since the war.) I don't know how much it might be worth, but consider it priceless, and would never dream of selling it.

SN

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:32 am

That is just it. To guys and gals like us, it is different. If we get a piece from the XB-70 chance are we are going to display it in our game rooms and keep it in a respectful way. To some it is just a way to make a few bucks.

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:51 am

I don't have a problem at all if people want to make money off of autographed items but I think that they should arranged with the autographing parties so that they are aware of what you are doing. For instance, going back once again to the Doolittle Reunions, we commissioned John Shaw's painting The Hornet's Nest. We made arrangements with the Raiders to have a certain amount of them signed by 16 of the Raiders. We gave part of the proceeds from the sales to the Doolittle Raider's scholarship fund and the rest of the proceeds go to our museum. Of course my print has 26 signatures

. They will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands if anyone wants that one lol.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:11 am

Yeah, there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes they will sign stuff to be sold by museums to raise funds.

leo · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:33 pm

Each year I print a couple of my favorite shots taken during the Reno Races or PRS, track down pilots and crews and collect signatures. Got a nice colllection going of some great past pilots, teams and planes. I would'nt think of a value, that isn't why I went to the effort.
I've also had several books signed over the years, and collected several parts. The value to all this isn't what they would fetch on E-Bay, but what it all means to me.

gregv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:07 pm

A co-worker from years ago gave me a box of his aviation books that he was clearing out; amongst the gems was an early edition of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" signed by Boyington. I was surprised to find it in there, and there's no way that I'd ever sell it.

cheers

greg v.

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XB-70 "Crash Artifact" on Ebay

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