Wings for Victory War Savings plaque

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De La Rue Plastics

c. 1943

Overview

An ivory coloured Bakelite plaque depicting a winged male figure bearing a sword and defeating a serpent. The figure is set against a background of clouds and has below it five sequences of dot dot dot dash representing the Morse Code for V used extensively throughout WW2 to signify Victory. The plaque has a stepped border bearing the opening line of inscription at the head and winged badge of the RAF at the foot. The inscription is in upright capital bold lettering and the whole plaque is moulded in relief.

The plaque is enclosed within a modern metal-look frame to protect it. The Bakelite is prone to chipping and cracking and the hanger on the reverse looked unreliable.

Historical information

Wings for Victory Week was one of the British National War Savings campaigns during WWII. It specifically raised money to support individual Royal Air Force warplanes.
There were similar schemes which raised money for the Army (Salute the Soldier Week) and Navy (Warship Week).
Each county was set a target of money to raise and local civic leaders were presented with plaques recognising the fund raising efforts of their communities.
Smaller groups within the county, such as the W.V.S. (Women's Voluntary Service), local schools and towns which held events to raise money, received certificates.

The plaque was manufactured by De La Rue Plastics.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00024

Item type

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Bakelite

Plastic

Width

420 mm

Height or length

655 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Plaque:
"PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN 1943
PRESENTED BY THE AIR MINISTRY
IN RECOGNITION OF
SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT IN
WINGS FOR VICTORY WEEK"

Keywords

Commemoration

Commemorative Plaque

Second World War

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Air Force

Fundraising

Aviation

Place made

United Kingdom

Year

c. 1943