Beautiful Day for Flying

Does it get any better than a day spent out flying with a first class Captain?  I can think of no better way to occupy the day.  Happy Anniversary Captain Kenny!

WWII Beer Run

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 brewery 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 be jettisoned 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.

On the Way to Work

Saw you going to work today!  How was your day at the office?

A Different View

Things look a little different from over here. Hey Bob, when you get done with your tea, take a picture of that mountain and glacier for me will ya?

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Glad to be up here...

Because the wind is howling down there! As you can imagine by the photo, that snow is moving pretty quick. We were well above here and comfy, but for such a nice day above it looked quite miserable below us.

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The Great One

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Formations in the Tundra

This set of geographic formations is south-east of Tanana, and north-west of Nenana. Alaska has many square miles and changes form so many times. I never tire of looking out the window.

Happy Thursday

Clear blue skies over Fairbanks.

Mr. Pilot Most Popular Guy in Town

When Mr. Pilot lands in town everyone comes out to say hello!

Photo from the Alaska State Library

Wien Air in Barrow Alaska 1935 on the ice over the lagoon

Aircraft is a Ford Tri-Motor

Not Often...

Not often is there an opportunity to take a photo of another DC6 out on the job.  So when it does happen there is usually one lucky fella with a camera handy.  This time it was not Kenny but he is the one flying the plane in these photos.  From the left seat might I add.

Photos complements of another flight crew member who wants to remain anonymous.

T.G.I.F.

Not doctored or photo-shopped! Just in the right place at the right time.

Have a great weekend!

Mt. McKinley

Top picture is Mt. Foraker on left at 17,400 ft., and Mt McKinley on the right at 20,320 ft. The lower picture is Mt McKinley alone, and clearly shows both of its peaks. The south and north peaks are collectively known as the Churchill Peaks.

Sunny Morning

Enjoy your day.