My uncle John told us a few stories about his WW2 experiences as a C-47 pilot. He told us of dropping paratroopers on D-Day, flying crucial supplies to a tiny airfield laid don above Omaha Beach, flying as to Patton, Market Garden, and supplies to Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Our favorite story though, was about the airbase officers club.
Officers clubs were established by the military; they provided the building space and furniture, I believe. Officers themselves had to provide any food, refreshments, or “entertainment”. And when the squadron arrived, the only refreshment that the club had available was very weak English beer.
So John and his co-pilot collected ALL the currency held by the officers on the base, and then signed out their plane for a training mission. And promptly flew over to NEUTRAL IRELAND.
John landed in a potato field, and were quickly accosted by an irate farmer. The co-pilot opened the door, held up a satchel, and said, “We want booze. We have money”. The farmer hardly paused a moment before saying, “Come with me , Yank”. And the two of them trotted off to the town.
John turned the plane around and taxied back to the other end of the field, to enable a quick get-away if necessary. He kept the engines turning over all the while.
In a short time John witnessed a parade coming from the town. The co-pilot climbed back aboard, and began hauling cases of bottles onto the plane and throwing out cash in return. Eventually , the co-pilot closed the door and John took off back to the airbase.
Where they had the best equipped bar in the USAAF.
ANOTHER BEER RUN STORY
My uncle John told us a few stories about his WW2 experiences as a C-47 pilot. He told us of dropping paratroopers on D-Day, flying crucial supplies to a tiny airfield laid don above Omaha Beach, flying as to Patton, Market Garden, and supplies to Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Our favorite story though, was about the airbase officers club.
Officers clubs were established by the military; they provided the building space and furniture, I believe. Officers themselves had to provide any food, refreshments, or “entertainment”. And when the squadron arrived, the only refreshment that the club had available was very weak English beer.
So John and his co-pilot collected ALL the currency held by the officers on the base, and then signed out their plane for a training mission. And promptly flew over to NEUTRAL IRELAND.
John landed in a potato field, and were quickly accosted by an irate farmer. The co-pilot opened the door, held up a satchel, and said, “We want booze. We have money”. The farmer hardly paused a moment before saying, “Come with me , Yank”. And the two of them trotted off to the town.
John turned the plane around and taxied back to the other end of the field, to enable a quick get-away if necessary. He kept the engines turning over all the while.
In a short time John witnessed a parade coming from the town. The co-pilot climbed back aboard, and began hauling cases of bottles onto the plane and throwing out cash in return. Eventually , the co-pilot closed the door and John took off back to the airbase.
Where they had the best equipped bar in the USAAF.
I'm guessing it wasn't the last time either.