Question re: 1943/1944 Aircrew Lunch and other confectionery

[pandatime]

Currently reading the 1958 book Special Rations for the Armed Forces by Franz A Koehler (an ebook copy which can be downloaded for free on Google Books) and it talks about the contents of the Aircrew Lunch. Now, one thing this book does not do is mention specific consumer production companies or brands, but you can pretty much figure out what the name brand is by the description. Usually.

An Aircrew Lunch consisted of:

Fudge bars, vanilla and chocolate
Gum

And various loose candies, such as:

Chocolate Drops (m&ms?)
Gum drops
Jelly and licorice drops (Good and Plenty)
Pancoated peanuts (Boston baked beans)
Pancoated cream centers (???)
Fondant creams (???)

So what are pancoated cream centers? Was there a consumer product equivalent to this? Fondant creams, I have a feeling are similar to the British Dolly Mixture. (If you've ever had licorice allsorts it's the pastel colored portions.) Creams are mentioned again as part of a "bridge mixture": pan-coated peanuts, jelly beans, chocolate discs and creams. The only bridge mix I've ever heard of is the chocolate nut variety so this is a bit of a mystery for me.

The book also mentions "starch jelly bars" (I'm assuming Chuckles) as well as caramel nougat bars (Milky Way?), choco coconut bars (Mounds?), and fruit tablet candy (Charms) among other things.

[Smitty]

I can’t answer your questions, but I assume you’ve seen steve1989’s Aircrew Lunch video? It does have several of those items and does talk about the replacement briefly.

[pandatime]

Oh yeah, I've seen the video and he does mention a "cream" type candy, but I don't think he ever identifies the consumer equivalent for that one.

[ViperGTS]

I cant think of anything currently made that is exactly like that... in the US

I guess Valomilk or Mallow Cups would be closest, but they are way bigger

They could have been something like a vanilla caramel version of milk duds or sugar babies.

[steve1989]

That Air Crew Lunch in the vid was in fair enough shape to review, but that candy was not 100% identifiable from it's original state, making things a bit tricky.

But here are some of candies used in US rations during WW2.

[KML1989]

Great information, and an awesome video to boot. Thanks Steve!

[ViperGTS]

Great information, and an awesome video to boot. Thanks Steve!

I bought some reproductions for display, but Mr. Steve has the only real one on video...that I know of. (Mine are just reprints of the boxes, no contents) I was trying to find 1942 flight rations but the crew lunch didnt start until 44... I think.
I wanted an accurate display since my Gramps was Army Air Corp in 42, but supposedly the crews supplied their own snacks that early in the war.
Gramps:

[KML1989]

Great information, and an awesome video to boot. Thanks Steve!

I bought some reproductions for display, but Mr. Steve has the only real one on video...that I know of. (Mine are just reprints of the boxes, no contents) I was trying to find 1942 flight rations but the crew lunch didnt start until 44... I think.
I wanted an accurate display since my Gramps was Army Air Corp in 42, but supposedly the crews supplied their own snacks that early in the war.
Gramps:

Yes, Steve has the only video out there documenting this ration. I would give my right leg for one of those intact pieces!

[ViperGTS]

Great information, and an awesome video to boot. Thanks Steve!

I bought some reproductions for display, but Mr. Steve has
Yes, Steve has the only video out there documenting this ration. I would give my right leg for one of those intact pieces!

Hard to find and big $$. I think Steve said it took 3 years to find one, damn.

[pandatime]

The coconut bars were called Smacks, not Mounds! That's good to know.

I'm trying to put together a reproduction for this ration and for the cream candies I may have to sub the fondants from Dolly Mix.