Spitfire Premium Ale first appeared in May 1990 at RAF Northolt in Middlesex, the oldest surviving Royal Air Force flying station, as part of the official launch of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s £20 million ‘Reach for the Sky’ appeal.

The beer had been brewed to mark the 50 th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and Shepherd Neame pledged that £10 a barrel would go to the RAF charity.

As a Kentish brewer, Sheps were very aware of the tremendous debt of gratitude they owed to wartime RAF pilots who fought for freedom in the skies over Kent.

On hand to help pull the first pint of Spitfire were ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Barber, who was chairman of the appeal fund and the fund’s controller Air Chief Marshall Sir Thomas Kennedy.

Other guests were one-time Goon and ex-RAF officer Michael Bentine and former-Spitfire pilot Raymond Baxter, better known as the original anchorman of BBC TV’s Tomorrow’s World.

Initial sales projections for Spitfire were 500 barrels by December 1990. As more and more customers clamoured for the new ale, this was doubled after three months and in the end Shepherd Neame donated nearly £28,000 to the RAF Appeal – 2,800 barrels-worth!

During the Battle of Britain, RAF Northolt was home to No 303 Squadron – the Polish squadron and the most successful unit in the Battle with 126 confirmed kills.

One of its fliers Sgt Josef Frantisek (a Czech) was the most successful pilot, bagging 17 confirmed victories and one probable. He died in the Battle.