B17 transports whiskey to France

The US airforce were based at various locations through out N.Ireland during the war. B17's were based outside Ballymena in N Ireland.My Father, now working in the North of Ireland became friendly with a US Airforce Captain. Invites followed to the base, a sober military driver being made available. The bar that my Father worked in supplied the Army Navy Club, with whiskey etc.While on leave, many US personnel called first thing to the bar to off load gas masks, heavy over coats etc and pick up a bottle as they headed off on leave. Everything left was returned and this became something of a routine. Word spread!!!
D.Day and all the yanks left, weeks past, all virtually quite.
One day the Captain referred to above arrived in the bar and proceeded to buy praticaly all the whiskey which was then ferried out to the airfield where it was flown to France, the complaint being that decent whiskey just wasn't available in France.I have a photograph of the Captain and a crufix he gave my Father. My Father heard that he subsquently lost his legs but was unsure if he lived or died.
I thought this was an interesting story and somewhat unusal.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.