Modification XXX

During the war, the Heneger and Constable brewerys donated free beer to all servicemen. 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.

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The Spitfire Mk IX was equipped with pylons under the wings for bombs or tanks. The Spitfire crews discovered that the bomb pylons could also be modified to carry beer kegs. Whether the kegs could be jettisoned in case of emergency is unclear. The high altitude cruise of the Mk IX allowed for in-flight cooling of the external load and after landing, the beer was already cold and fit for consumption.

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The official designation for these series of missions was code named Modification XXX. In later variations, a long range fuel tank was modified to carry beer instead of fuel.

So concludes another amazing aviation tale from Sierra Hotel Aeronautics……