The underbelly of history … lot of stories like this are buried with the men who fulfilled their missions …
In the lighter moments of WWII, the Spitfire was used in an unorthodox role: bringing beer kegs to the men in Normandy. During the war, the Heneger and Constable breweries donated free beer to the troops. After D-Day, supplying the invasion troops in Normandy with vital supplies was already a challenge. Obviously, there was no room in the logistics chain for such luxuries as beer or other types of refreshments. Some men, often called sourcers, were able to get wine or other niceties from the land or rather from the locals. RAF Spitfire pilots came up with an even better idea.
The Spitfire Mk IX was an evolved version of the Spitfire, with pylons under the wings for bombs or tanks. It was discovered that the bomb pylons could also be modified to carry beer kegs. According to pictures that can be found, various sizes of kegs were used. Whether the kegs could bejettisoned in case of emergency is unknown. If the Spitfire flew high enough, the cold air at altitude would even refresh the beer, making it ready for consumption upon arrival.
A variation was a long range fuel tank modified to carry beer instead of fuel. The modification even received the official designation Mod. XXX. Propaganda services were quick to pick up on this, which probably explains the official designation.
A staged shot of the Mod. XXX tank being filled.
As a result, Spitfires equipped with Mod XXX or keg-carrying pylons were often sent back to Great Britain for maintenance or liaison duties. They would then return to Normandy with full beer kegs fitted under the wings.
The Spitfire had very little ground clearance with the larger beer kegs.
Typically, the British Revenue of Ministry and Excise stepped in, notifying the brewery that they were in violation of the law by exporting beer without paying the relevant taxes. It seems that Mod. XXX was terminated then, but various squadrons found different ways to refurbish their stocks, most often done with the unofficial approval of higher echelons.
In his book Dancing in the Skies, Tony Jonsson, the only Icelancer pilot in the RAF, recalled beer runs while he was flying with 65 Squadron. Every week a pilot was sent back to the UK to fill some cleaned-up drop tanks with beer and return to the squadron. Jonsson hated the beer runs as every man on the squadron would be watching you upon arrival. Anyone who made a rough landing and dropped the tanks would be the most hated man on the squadron for an entire week.
Well Done, Northampton!!!
THE BEST HOSPITAL SIGN EVER?
Where else but National Health in the UK?
Guess what this is…
Caller : Hi, our printer is not working.
Customer Service: What is wrong with it?
Caller : Mouse is jammed.
Customer Service: Mouse? … Printers don’t have a mouse!!!
Caller: Mmmmm??.. Oh really? .. I will send a picture.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GONNA PASS THIS ALONG
Computer problem on Bribie Island Queenland
Technical Support, how can I help you?
FEMALE CALLER: ‘Last night my computer started making a lot of hissing noises at me so I shut it down. This morning when I turned it on the computer started hissing and cracking, then started smoking and a bad smell, then nothing’.
TECH SUPPORT: ‘I will have a technician come over first thing this morning.
Leave the computer just like it is, so they can find the problem and fix it, or change it out with another computer. Give me your address; phone number and the technician will be there just as soon as he can’.
When the technician got there, the lady showed him where the computer was,
said what happened to it, … this is what the technician found wrong.
Take a look at the pictures…. YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES …….
And you thought YOU had computer problems!!!
Use a (clean) dustpan to fill a container that doesn’t fit in the sink
Place a rubber band around an open paint can to wipe your brush on, and keep paint off the side of the can
Use a staple remover to save your fingernails when trying to add things to your key ring!
Put wooden spoon across boiling pot of water to keep from boiling over.
Use bread clips to save flip-flops with split holes.
How to put shoes in the dryer
Use sunglasses or a small convex mirror to avoid people sneaking up on you while wearing headphones at work
Use a Comb to Keep a Nail Steady for Hammering
This woman is 51 yrs old.
She is TV health guru Gillian McKeith, advocating a holistic approach to nutrition and health, and promoting exercise, a vegetarian diet which is high in organic fruits and vegetables. She recommends detox diets, colonic irrigation, and supplements.
This woman is also 51.
She is Nigella Lawson… A TV cook, who eats meat, butter, and desserts.
…. And, she washes it all down with wine!
I REST MY CASE. 🙂
Don’t mess with older folks!
A lady was videotaping her son riding a skate board when her attention switched to an old woman tryingto cross the street. You can hear the lady who is doing the taping giggling as she records the event. Be sure to focus on the driver of the car.The video is a quick one …. but you’ll probably watch it more than once.