A Spitfire full of beer - what could go wrong? Airfix has released a celebratory bundle of the famous Spitfire Mk.IXc "Beer bomber" of many memes from middle-aged men. We look at it in our preview. #nobeerincluded
Preview: Airfix's Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc 'Beers Away' Bundle 1/24th scale
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc 'Beers Away' Bundle
From Airfix
1/24th Scale
Product No #BUNDLEA76
Parts Included: 449 (including resin parts)
Skill Level: 4
Marking schemes included in the box: 3
Price: £119.99
Expected Summer 2025
Beer Away! Airfix wants us to celebrate one of WWII’s most legendary morale-boosting missions with the exclusive Beer Away Pin Badge - a tribute to the Spitfire pilots who delivered more than just firepower.
The subject: The Spitfire Mk.VIII
In the summer of 1944, after the D-Day landings, British troops pressing into Normandy faced fierce resistance—and a dry pint glass. Supplies were tight, and morale was vital. So, in one of the war’s most unexpected missions, Spitfire pilots took to the skies not just with ammunition but with beer.
A Spitfire Mk IX out of RAF Tangmere with beer barrels slung underwing, pictured somewhere over the South Coast.
Ingenious airmen modified drop tanks and strapped barrels beneath their wings, delivering much-needed refreshment to parched troops across the Channel. Some called it “Operation Cheers.” These weren’t official missions. They were flights of morale. Spitfires—symbols of British grit—became airborne drays for a brief, glorious period.
An RAF mess member of staff (on the right) filling a fuel tank with beer.
It wasn’t about luxury. It was about home. A cold beer in a hot war zone was more than a drink—it was a reminder of what they were fighting for.
An RAF crewman affixing aerodynamic nose cones (like the ones in this kit) to some traditional beer barrels.
The kit:
17002 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII in 1:24 scale, with new parts to create the Mk.VIII differences. New parts include a retractable tail wheel section, short span ailerons, a revised instrument panel, and revised upper and lower wings, including the downward recognition light. Containing a total of 452 parts, once built, the kit measures an overall length of 402 mm and a wingspan of 469 mm.
This bundle includes:
Resin Parts (2 x beer barrels, including lids, 2 x nose cones, 2 x bomb racks, and 1 x slipper tank).
1:24 Scale - A17001A Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc - Flying Dray - Model Kit
Free Special Edition Pint Glass—dedicated to ML208
Free Special Edition Pint Glass—dedicated to ML208
The pin & pint glass:
Get this exclusive Beer Away pin badge & pint glass when you pre-order A17001A - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc – Flying Dray kit from the Airfix website.
The detailed enamel pin features a beer barrel with a P-51 Mustang drop-tank rear section as a makeshift nose cone, having been jettisoned, while the special edition pint glass is dedicated to ML208.
Marking schemes in this boxing:
Showcasing three vastly different schemes to choose from, including the "Beer Bomber" on the cover art.
Scheme A: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc, an aircraft flown by F/L Tadeusz Szumowski, No. 302 (Polish) Squadron, Plumetot, (B.10), France, August 1944.
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Scheme B: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc, aircraft flown by F/Lt. František Vancl, No. 611 Squadron, Royal Air Force Biggin Hill, England, December 1942.
Scheme C: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc, Aircraft flown by F/Sgt. Douglas Readdy, No. 73 Squadron, Royal Air Force Ta Kali, Malta, September 1946.
You can see more about this kit or pre-order directly from the Airfix Website