A Thirst on the Front
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history. As the Battle of Normandy dragged on, supplies were scarce, and one absence was felt deeply by British soldiers—beer.
With rations stretched thin and official supply lines unable to provide alcohol, inventive measures emerged. The solution would come from the skies, in a most unusual modification of the Royal Air Force’s iconic Spitfires.
Beer in the Sky
British breweries, including Heneger and Constable, stepped forward to donate beer for the troops. To deliver it, pilots repurposed the underwing pylons of Spitfire Mk IX fighters, normally used for bombs or fuel tanks.
The tanks were steam-cleaned, filled with 45 gallons each, and marked with “XXX” before flying across the Channel. Each aircraft could carry 90 gallons to soldiers waiting in France.
From Spitfires to Typhoons
As demand grew, larger Hawker Typhoons were used to haul even greater loads. But the Typhoon bore an unfortunate resemblance to the German Focke-Wulf 190, leading American Thunderbolt pilots to mistake and attack them.
One Typhoon, according to Group Captain Scott, was attacked twice in a single day. On one occasion, a pilot dropped the beer-filled tanks into the Channel to escape. Despite the risks, the flights continued, earning their place in wartime lore.
Better Kegs, Better Beer
While efficient, the fuel tanks left the beer with a metallic flavor, sometimes even a trace of fuel. Engineers soon devised a new method: mounting barrels directly on the Spitfire’s pylons. Nose cones improved aerodynamics, and the high-altitude flight chilled the beer naturally.
Though the kegs carried less than the tanks, the improved taste made them popular. American pilots joined in, adding treats like iced custard and ice cream to their runs.
The End of the Runs
The beer flights eventually attracted the attention of Customs and Excise. Breweries were warned that providing free beer to troops in France this way violated export laws and evaded taxes. By late 1944, Operation XXX was halted.
Soon after, the U.S. government ordered that five percent of national beer production be reserved for overseas troops, and liberated French breweries supplied the rest. What began as an improvised morale boost ended with official recognition that beer had become part of the war effort.
At dawn on June 6, 1944, the Normandy landings began and beer vanished from the front.
RAF pilots answered with beer runs, using Spitfire Mk IX fighters to ferry supplies across the Channel…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/buJCmAKkZI
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 18, 2025