+Olham Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Is this an April hoax, or is it true? I knew the Tommies have their follies, but this one's standing out! http://www.thirstyswagman.com/2015/12/09/the-beer-bombers-flying-pubs-of-ww2/ Quote
Mike Dora Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Absolutely true Olham. The RAF has always known its priorities (I remember Buccaneer external tanks being steam-cleaned in the 70's so that they could bring bulk wine back from detachments to Cyprus). Mike Quote
KJakker Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Yes, this is true. In fact because of it Wrench humorously created a "Beer Bomb" for Strike Fighters 2. Quote
+Olham Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 I thought it was true - I have been in England several times and learned to know the Tommies a bit. Great humour, and perfectly crazy, but intriguing ideas! Quote
Hauksbee Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 This would be unthinkable in the American Army. Quote
Skyviper Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Yeah it would. But I've heard that if you made friends with people in ordinance and placed a crate or two with a bunch of rocks in it. Dump the rocks and put exact weight of said beer into crates. Quote
+DoctorQuest Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 This would be unthinkable in the American Army. Maybe the Army but not the Navy....... http://worldwarwings.com/skyraider-toilet-bomb Quote
UK_Widowmaker Posted February 22, 2016 Posted February 22, 2016 Nothing comes between a Brit and his Beer! Quote
+Olham Posted February 22, 2016 Author Posted February 22, 2016 Nothing comes between a Brit and his Beer! Quite understandable - you guys are brewing some fine ales, bitters and stouts. I like it that you don't add that fizzy carbonic acid (what about the German Reinheitsgebot, when they put that in there?!); and that the beer is not getting chilled, but just has the temperature from the cellar. I got drunk from many good pints in England many times. 1 Quote
Hauksbee Posted February 22, 2016 Posted February 22, 2016 I like it that you don't add that fizzy carbonic acid...and that the beer is not getting chilled, but just has the temperature from the cellar. Let us not be too hasty, here. I would submit the two finest things are (1) a hot summer afternoon, and (2) a frosted mug of ice-cold beer. (...but, that's Americans for you.) Quote
+Olham Posted February 22, 2016 Author Posted February 22, 2016 Many, if not most German beer drinkers think the same - they want it ice-cold. I don't like it - can hardly get it down so cold. Which is the main danger aboutEnglish beer: it goes down comfortably smooth! 1 Quote
UK_Widowmaker Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 We need warm beer...to warm us up..and take our minds off the drizzle and wind :) Quote
+Olham Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 There you say something! Here it was grey and rainy since two weeks! Bah! (Although, today there was blue sky - at last! Went out for a walk...) Quote
Hauksbee Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 ...to warm us up..and take our minds off the drizzle and wind :) Sounds like winter in San Francisco. Quote
+Olham Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 Let us not be too hasty, here. I would submit the two finest things are (1) a hot summer afternoon, and (2) a frosted mug of ice-cold beer. (...but, that's Americans for you.) Ah, what do you Americans know about real good beer?! But we could agree on the hot summer afternoon... Quote
Hauksbee Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 Ah, what do you Americans know about real good beer?! What do we know about beer? All out great beers started out being brewed by Europeans. Same with wines. Europeans came over and brought cuttings from their native vines. When root rot destroyed French vineyards, they came over here and took new cuttings. Now French vineyards grow American vines. Quote
+Olham Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) What do we know about beer? All out great beers started out being brewed by Europeans. I guess that's true, Hauksbee - I was only teasing you. Now French vineyards grow American vines. Hmmm... - I guess you would have made a good lawyer... Edited February 24, 2016 by Olham Quote
Hauksbee Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 I guess that's true, Hauksbee - I was only teasing you. Never doubted it. Quote
JimAttrill Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 I think Pierre Clostermann mentions the beer run in Spitfires in "The Big Show". And Mike Dora's comments about the Buccaneer underwing tanks being used for wine doesn't surprise me. Just about all the servicing panels on aircraft were taken off and cigarettes and booze hidden therein. I don't think HM Customs would suspect a drop tank full of vino! I heard of Shackleton crews returning from overseas stopping at the end of the runway and chucking out loads of contraband before going to their dispersals and the Customs inspectors. With the Varsity we used to hide stuff in the bomb aimer's bay and then lock it and lose the key. Quote
Hauksbee Posted March 13, 2016 Posted March 13, 2016 My favorite smuggling story is about the Italians in 1923 Schneider Cup race, which was held in America. This was during the Prohibition era when alcohol in all its forms was against the law. The Schneider Cup planes carried their fuel in the pontoons. The Italian team simply installed a fresh set of tanks (ones which had never seen gasoline) and filled them with red wine. . Quote
+Olham Posted March 13, 2016 Author Posted March 13, 2016 Man becomes ingenious to get to his drinks! Quote
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