First draught of history
Armed for war but ready for peace. This single-seater fighter – the Supermarine Spitfire – sports D-Day invasion stripes plus cannons on its wings and beer barrels slung beneath them. Many Spits were rigged up as airborne beer carriers in a bid to boost allied morale.
United States Army Air Force bombers – in addition to other allied aircraft – dropped food aid to starving civilians towards the end of the war. The Americans referred to them as Candy Bombers.
The beer, dropped over Normandy, was produced by the Henegar and Constable Brewery. The West Sussex brewery closed in 1955, but later reopened to trade as the Arundel Brewery.