How the RAF Ingeniously Used Spitfires to Smuggle Booze During the War

Supplying More Than Just Ammunition

During World War II, soldiers relied on more than just weapons and rations to keep going. Morale was just as important as supplies, and for many British troops, nothing lifted their spirits quite like a pint of beer. However, after the D-Day landings in June 1944, getting beer to the front lines became a challenge.

The supply chain was focused on moving ammunition, fuel, and food. While British breweries generously donated large amounts of beer, getting it to the troops in France was another issue entirely. The soldiers found themselves stuck drinking weak French cider instead, which many found disappointing. Some even wrote home, asking for proper beer to be sent. While official deliveries were slow, some RAF and USAAF pilots took matters into their own hands.

The Flying Pub Takes Off

Unofficial beer runs began with a simple but clever idea—using Spitfire aircraft to transport the beer. The planes typically carried jettison fuel tanks under their wings, which could be discarded when empty. Instead of fuel, these tanks were cleaned out and filled with beer, transforming the Spitfires into flying pubs. British breweries such as Henty & Constable were quick to support the effort, with RAF officer Richard Henty leading the initiative.

Despite the lack of official approval from the Air Ministry, the idea gained traction. A photograph even appeared in newspapers showing a Spitfire at Tangmere airfield being loaded with beer. Pilots embraced the scheme, realizing it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Soon, beer-filled flights were crossing the English Channel.

The First Beer Run

The first known beer run took place on June 13, 1944, just a week after D-Day. Flight Lieutenant Lloyd Berryman of 412 Squadron was given the mission. His Wing Commander, Keith Hudson, instructed him to take two other pilots, load up their Spitfire tanks with beer, and fly to a makeshift airstrip near Bény-sur-Mer in Normandy.

Berryman later recalled that they were told the water supply in France might be unsafe, so beer would be a welcome alternative. The flight went smoothly, but upon landing, they were greeted with a problem. The airstrip was dangerously close to a church steeple occupied by German snipers. A British soldier hurried over, warning them to drop the tanks and leave immediately. The pilots quickly offloaded the beer and took off, narrowly avoiding trouble.

The Demand for More Beer

As word of the beer runs spread, more pilots got involved. On July 12, 1944, the first official shipment of British beer arrived in Normandy, but it was a limited supply—only enough for each soldier to have one pint. With demand far outpacing supply, the RAF found new ways to transport larger quantities.

Typhoon pilots from RAF 123 Wing joined the effort, using their aircraft’s larger fuel tanks to carry even more beer. They would fly to Shoreham, where a local brewery would fill their tanks, then return to Normandy under the guise of reconnaissance flights. As the beer runs continued, the operation became more sophisticated, with breweries adjusting production to accommodate the unusual transportation method.

The Challenges of Beer Bombing

Not everything went smoothly. The Typhoon, a British fighter aircraft, closely resembled the German Focke-Wulf 190. This led to confusion in the air, particularly with American pilots unfamiliar with the aircraft. On more than one occasion, U.S. pilots mistook the beer-laden Typhoons for enemy planes and opened fire.

Group Captain Desmond Scott later recalled that 123 Wing’s makeshift beer transport was attacked by American Thunderbolts twice in a single day. The pilot had to jettison the beer tanks into the Channel to escape. As Scott put it, “Beer cost us money, and these encounters proved expensive.” Despite these setbacks, the beer runs continued, ensuring that British soldiers had a small taste of home even in the middle of the war.