Bodensee He177

[David E. Brown]

Interesting stories here.

They remind me of a story a former IV./KG 55 pilot told Dave Wadman and I some years ago. He was telling us about the unit's transfer form Dijon France to Minsk in May-June 1944 and that they stuffed all the aircraft with supplies. We assumed that he was describing transportation of critical items like mail, food and munitions to which after a roaring laugh replied that it was something FAR more important - booze!

I would assume that there were many such flights and cargos within the Luftwaffe - and other airforces - particularly on flights originating outside Germany from such places as France, Denmark, etc.

Cheers,

David

[Boris Ciglic]

Well, such things were not done exclusively in Luftwaffe and in WWII. Croat AF aircraft were extensively used for all sorts of "smuggling", mostly of sugar and tobacco. Few years ago the Organization I worked was visited by business associate from Belgium. During the informal conversation we came on the subject of aviation and it happened that his father was Mirage III pilot. Among other things he told me that whenever his father flew to Italy he would return with delicious food and wine which he used to pack into the parachute compartment in the tail, and which were much more expensive in Belgium. Of course, the parachute was removed any time he went there.