Spice Cat Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Not quite what you are thinking put your tankard away. A colleague recently sent me an e mail concerning WWII Spitfires with beer kegs strapped to the wings. Apparently they were used to supply the troops after the Normandy landings. The e mail states the practice stopped (officially) after Customs and Excise said the brewery needed to pay export duty! Now before I get taken for a complete ride; has anyone else seen or heard of this?? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daithi O Buitigh Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 There you go - it really happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I like Spitfire - its a nice pint. BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daithi O Buitigh Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 If memory serves (I lost the book that mentioned it years back) it was Johnny Johnston who did that with a Mk IX - and it was to supply the mess with beer and not all the troops (even a squadron of Lancs wouldn't be able to carry enough) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 9 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Necessity is the mother of invention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm doing some research into my late father's role as Lancaster crew. With a view to building a Lanc in tribute. It's a shame he would never talk about it. He did once tell us though that before he retired he had never had a passport, but had stayed in Belgium for one night. To my surprise, about a month ago, I heard from a nice chap in France who collects WW2 records. To cut a long story short, we compared his records to Dad's log book, and concluded that this night in Belgium was actually a beer delivery to a forward airfield with the Lanc's bomb bay full of barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo565 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 The beers are from Wells & Youngs brewery in Bedford,I have tried Spitfire and Bombadier ( wonder if they got that one from the Lanc.) Got to try Wells Waggle Dance ,its magic 5% its good. Never heard of an aeroplane called Waggle Dance though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Bombadier is a very old recipe of beer and was served to the bombardier guards.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 It appears others had the same idea but using a fuel tank rather than barrels. This could have either been a slipper tank of 30, 45 or 90 gallons or possibly a 50 gallon ex Typhoon cylindrical one. The text does not say how these tanks were removed without manpower or equipment as when full I am not sure they could have simply been 'dropped' on the runway without damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spice Cat Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 A pint of Bombadier for me please. Cheers chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratocruiser Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 This was to aid the Spit do a barrel roll ! Isn't Spitfire bitter from Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent ? Edited By Stratocruiser on 23/02/2012 13:42:47 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spice Cat Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Posted by Stratocruiser on 23/02/2012 13:42:30: This was to aid the Spit do a barrel roll ! Isn't Spitfire bitter from Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent ? Edited By Stratocruiser on 23/02/2012 13:42:47 Very droll. Yes I believe Shepherd Neame do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daithi O Buitigh Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I think to get the barrels off they just slid a trolley (or a mattress) underneath and the pilot hit the release. Looking at the first photo there's not a lot of ground clearance so a low trolley would work (either that or get a few erks to hold it when released) Edited By Daithi O Buitigh on 23/02/2012 14:57:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I think a bomb dolly, as they would have used to fit them, would be ideal - they where used to unload unused ordinance anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu knowles Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 There is a fine bitter sold around the North West called 'Lancaster Bomber' , served with pic of said aeroplane on the pint glass. I still have the glass from my first pint, I went and asked the Landlord if I could buy it and he was so stunned that I had asked and not just nicked it like everyone else did, he gave it to me! Beer still tastes that bit better from that glass. stu k Edited By stu knowles on 23/02/2012 15:38:59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 This is the text of the email from my French friend, about the Lancaster beer mission. Yes G/C Deane flew to Florennes on 6 october 44 , to bring beer to PFF personnels stationned in Belgium !he had 5 crews with him . he said: ""As I was then doing little flying, I decided to be the beer carrier. In place of bombs, barrels of beer were loaded into the bomb bay and we set forth. After handing over the barrels I was given a case of champagne for Don Bennett which I duly handed over ". Funny no ??? did your father talked of this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Horne Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Posted by Stratocruiser on 23/02/2012 13:42:30: This was to aid the Spit do a barrel roll ! Isn't Spitfire bitter from Shepherd Neame in Faversham, Kent ? Edited By Stratocruiser on 23/02/2012 13:42:47 They even have a logo on the bottle saying.."The Bottle Of Britain"! There's a great Shepherd Neame Pub in Reigate, The Hatch, that has many photo's, paintings etc of Spitfires on its walls - and severs a good pint too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Posted by Phil Horne on 23/02/2012 16:36:10: and severs a good pint too! The unkindest cut of all! We took a case to our twinned club in Germany a couple of years ago - probably the first and last time 24 Spitfires were downed near Cologne in a single day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Have you seen all the rather "un - PC" ad's for Spitfire Ale? such as Loads more HERE Edit - Actually forget that link, just look at the Spitfire Ale website Edited By Chris Bott on 23/02/2012 18:20:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daithi O Buitigh Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Reminds me of the story of the Polish pilot returning from a mission and running into a PR crew who asked him what happened. "We were taken on by a bunch of Fokkers - I managed to shoot one down and the other Fokkers flew back". His CO intervened: "You do realise of course he is referring to the Focke Wulf 190" "No" replied the Pole, "Those Fokkers were Messerschmitts" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Daithi According to the text in my link three spitfires landed and were met by a solitary soldier who told them the runway was under sniper fire and they better leave right away. Even a 30 gallon tank would weigh 300lbs if full and would be rather more delicate than a barrel so it would need careful man handling. I just wondered how they managed in the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worden Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Maybe not but a Stampe SV4C does a pretty good job! Taken at Headcorn a few months ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Great picture Worden. Is that a full size Stampe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worden Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 It certainly was full size Chris. There were 3 in the air doing some formation stuff, 2 landed but the other pilot obviously decided to have a bit of fun when the Spitfire balloon took off. Probably only a few hundred feet up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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