Air Crew Lunch

Note that there are no buy and pay buttons.

Order through the contact form for the number of cartons you're interested in. This way I can calculate the best shipping option.

At the request of the 8th Air Force, operating from England, a pocket size package containing candy was developed. This package could be opened and closed while wearing gloves by sliding the box from one of the ends, exposing an opening from which a confection could be shaken out. This was especially useful for fighter pilots who had their hands full handeling the airplane.

It was found that a high carbohydrate ration* would alleviate fatigue and improve efficiency during long flights. Therefor, the ration* consisted of candies that could be munched upon during the flight at intervals.

One compartment of the Air Crew Lunch contained two slabs of fudge, one vanilla and one chocolate flavoured, and two candy coated pieces of chewing gum. Several smaller candies were in the opposite compartment: peanuts, chocolate drops, liquorice and cream fonds, all candy coated, and fruit gummies.


Although development started late 1943 and 10,000 test samples were made by the Beech-Nut Packing Co. for field trials, it took another year before the final product was officially accepted with specification CQD No. 319 on 15 September 1944. Immediate procurement followed for almost 16 million units.

Active use by the combat units started in November 1944. The issue of the Air Crew Lunch was for flights of three or more hours duration.


*By Army standards, a ration is the amount of food for one man for one day. The Air Crew Lunch was therefor considered a "supplemental" ration.

Air Crew Lunch €7.50

The carton is copied from my own original and the colours are matched to that original. Although the blue looks quite dark, it is the correct shade.


Note that the this is only the carton. There are no confections included.


This reproduction packaging is sold completely assembled.

Due to the complexity of the construction of the box, I find it better to assemble the carton myself in order for you not to have to try and maybe tear a fold while setting up the compartments inside the box.

What to fill the carton with?

I have made a few for an event and used candy that was readily available at the supermarket. Chewing gum, fruit gummies, chocolate drops and peanuts are easy to find. Liquorice is also easy to get here in Holland.

However, I couldn't find any cream fonds. The slabs of fudge were also unavailable here and I substituted those with a caramel nougat bar packed in a Milky Way or Mars wrapper.

But maybe you have better luck then me in finding the correct confections and can make it a perfect recreation to impress your fellow re-enactors at an USAAF event.