Argy58
Italian, British and French Air Defence enamel badges, WW11
Shown here is a visually stunning arrangement of Air Defence identity badges from the WW11 period. All three badges are beautifully illustrated with bold visual devices such as night skies, tail fins, airplane silhouettes and searchlights. The supporting acronyms of the UNPA and UNDA badges are noteworthy for their bold sans serif modernist fonts that compliment the geometric forms of both badges.
UNPA (left):
Italian National Union of Air-Raid Protection, (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria).
This badge was made by the well known Italian Milanese maker F.M. Lorioli Fratelli. The visual elements within this 1940s piece exude compositional excellence; the foreground detailing of the 3D cityscape, UNPA letterforms and imposing airplane tail fins suggests a threat to a city and its population. Members of the Italian National Union of Air-Raid Protection, UNPA (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria) would have worn this type of badge between the late 1930s and mid 1940s.
Under the control of the Italian Fascist Party, UNAP's role would have involved all matters relating to civilian defence such as assisting with evacuation procedures, dissemination of air defence information, checking safety of buildings and air raid shelters, enforcing civilian compliance with blackouts and assisting centres for those that were bombed out.
NASC (centre):
The National Association of Spotter Clubs evolved and developed from the Observer Corps
from WW1.
Formed in 1941, the NASC was the body that co-ordinated large numbers of aircraft spotters. Their duties were to man observation posts and to identify the approach of enemy aircraft. 'Spotters' were skilled in the art of identifying hostile aircraft from friendly aircraft and many 'Spotters' were indeed children. It was a crucial part of the war effort as it gave valuable minutes for civilians to take cover from enemy bombing.
The centre badge was an ideal symbol for the NASC as it shows a wonderful profile of an aircraft flying over a townscape or cityscape. The sublime blue of the sky and the raised profiling of the aircraft conveys a strong graphic message. Made by Roden (London), it is an exquisite example of a WW11 Homefront badge.
UNDA (right):
National Union of Air Defence UNDA. (Union Nationale pour la Défense Aérienne)
This striking French Art Deco WW11 badge would have been worn by a member of the National Union of Air Defence UNDA. (Union Nationale pour la Défense Aérienne). During WW11, the UNDA would have been instructed to train civil defence volunteers as well as publicising the threat from the air through magazines, exhibitions, and lectures. Its role would have been very similar to Italy's UNPA (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria).
The badge was made by the Parisian maker Rene Moutereau and is characterised by strong Art Deco traits within both illustration and letterforms. The searchlight graphic underpins the design as it beams across a silhouette graphic of an enemy aircraft. The dramatic scene is played out against a rich blue night sky.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)
Italian, British and French Air Defence enamel badges, WW11
Shown here is a visually stunning arrangement of Air Defence identity badges from the WW11 period. All three badges are beautifully illustrated with bold visual devices such as night skies, tail fins, airplane silhouettes and searchlights. The supporting acronyms of the UNPA and UNDA badges are noteworthy for their bold sans serif modernist fonts that compliment the geometric forms of both badges.
UNPA (left):
Italian National Union of Air-Raid Protection, (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria).
This badge was made by the well known Italian Milanese maker F.M. Lorioli Fratelli. The visual elements within this 1940s piece exude compositional excellence; the foreground detailing of the 3D cityscape, UNPA letterforms and imposing airplane tail fins suggests a threat to a city and its population. Members of the Italian National Union of Air-Raid Protection, UNPA (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria) would have worn this type of badge between the late 1930s and mid 1940s.
Under the control of the Italian Fascist Party, UNAP's role would have involved all matters relating to civilian defence such as assisting with evacuation procedures, dissemination of air defence information, checking safety of buildings and air raid shelters, enforcing civilian compliance with blackouts and assisting centres for those that were bombed out.
NASC (centre):
The National Association of Spotter Clubs evolved and developed from the Observer Corps
from WW1.
Formed in 1941, the NASC was the body that co-ordinated large numbers of aircraft spotters. Their duties were to man observation posts and to identify the approach of enemy aircraft. 'Spotters' were skilled in the art of identifying hostile aircraft from friendly aircraft and many 'Spotters' were indeed children. It was a crucial part of the war effort as it gave valuable minutes for civilians to take cover from enemy bombing.
The centre badge was an ideal symbol for the NASC as it shows a wonderful profile of an aircraft flying over a townscape or cityscape. The sublime blue of the sky and the raised profiling of the aircraft conveys a strong graphic message. Made by Roden (London), it is an exquisite example of a WW11 Homefront badge.
UNDA (right):
National Union of Air Defence UNDA. (Union Nationale pour la Défense Aérienne)
This striking French Art Deco WW11 badge would have been worn by a member of the National Union of Air Defence UNDA. (Union Nationale pour la Défense Aérienne). During WW11, the UNDA would have been instructed to train civil defence volunteers as well as publicising the threat from the air through magazines, exhibitions, and lectures. Its role would have been very similar to Italy's UNPA (L'Unione Nazionale per la Protezione Anti-Aeria).
The badge was made by the Parisian maker Rene Moutereau and is characterised by strong Art Deco traits within both illustration and letterforms. The searchlight graphic underpins the design as it beams across a silhouette graphic of an enemy aircraft. The dramatic scene is played out against a rich blue night sky.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)