The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Wings for Victory
The `Wings for Victory' parade, Aylsham, May 1943, captured by Richard Beard a master mariner who served as a Squadron Leader, based at Coltishall, during World War II.
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Overview
Although visuals are poor, this film does give a flavour of one town’s experience of ‘Wings for Victory’ week. In Aylsham, Norfolk, a parade of servicemen, nurses, Women’s Voluntary Service (the WVS), and Girl Guides, parade through the town centre. It is possible to see at the film’s conclusion an aerial display of fighter aircraft. This footage was captured by Richard Beard, a master mariner who served as a Squadron Leader, based at Coltishall, during World War II.
The RAF equivalent of Warship Week, almost every town had ‘Wings for Victory’ fundraising weeks to help pay for new aircrafts. Wings for Victory was prominent in Aylsham as successive RAF and USAAF Squadrons were stationed at nearby Oulton and housed at Blickling Hall. In 1943, when this film was shot, it was decided that the national scheme would raise funds to pay for more bombers. Aimed to raise £100,000; the actual amount raised was £179,000.
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