SATURDAY, May 29, 1943, was the opening day of Glasgow’s ‘Wings for Victory’ campaign, and contributions in excess of £3.12 million were made. It was a substantial first step towards the target of £13.5 million for new RAF aircraft.
Music, flags, flowers, “massed crowds in summer attire”and vendors with trays of RAF and tartan favours filled George Square to capacity. Posters urged the crowd to “Remember the RAF, Above All Save”. RAF planes were on display The atmosphere, remarked this newspaper, gave the inauguration “the almost forgotten atmosphere of a gala occasion in peace-time.”
Read more: Herald Diary
Lady MacRobert, who was doing the honours, urged people to make the Week so successful that Hitler would know what Glasgow thought of him and his senior colleagues.
All that week, entertainments, including pipe bands and a tattoo, were staged as Glaswegians - ordinary people and companies alike- dipped into their pockets. Small investors were praised for their generosity.
In the event, the city was able to say that it had raised in excess of £16 million.
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