| Place | Oceania: Australia, Tasmania |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ARTV03501 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 70.2 x 57.4 cm; sheet: 63.2 x 50.4 cm |
| Object type | Poster |
| Physical description | offset lithograph on paper |
| Maker |
Unknown Commonwealth Government of Australia Hobart Mercury |
| Place made | Australia: Tasmania, Hobart |
| Date made | 1919 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
The Aeroplane is Coming!
Description
Post-war peace loan poster promoting the appearance of 'the aeroplane'. The exuberance of this poster reflects the excitement generated by the first and second Peace Loan campaigns which used novel methods to raise awareness of the loans. The first was a 'War Trophies' train, which travelled throughout the country enlisting loans. The second was to have aeroplanes visit different locations, and also perform aerial acrobatics. This poster depicts a photograph of A.F.C. pilot Captain Eric Cummings performing aerial acrobatics next to the tower of the Hobart G.P.O. On the underside of the lower wings of his biplane the words 'BUY BONDS' are painted. The photograph occupies the top portion of the poster. Black text printed on white paper occupies the rest of the poster.
The aeroplanes proved to be a very popular attraction. Melbourne newspaper 'The Argus' reported on 24 August 1920 that 'Remarkable success follows the tour of the aeroplanes and the war trophies train in the country districts. Both the aeroplanes and the train have now passed the £250,000 mark.'
The AFC was established in 1913. In 1915 Australia was asked by Britain to form compile squadrons for service with the RFC . Australia responded by despatching No. 1 squadron to Egypt. During the next two years the squadron operated first from Heliopolis and later in Palestine and Syria. More squadrons were raised in Australia for the Western Front. No. 2, 3 and 4 squadrons arrived in France during August, September and December 1917 respectively. No. 2 squadron (flying DH5s) was attached to the Third Army and during the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 carried out patrol duties, ground strafing of enemy troops and bombing. No. 3 squadron (flying RE8s) was supporting the last phase of the Passchendaele campaign in Flanders. The last Australian squadron to arrive (No. 4 flying Sopwith Camels) took up its duties with the First Army. At the end of the First World War, the AFC was disbanded and replaced by the Australian Air Corps which became the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921.