Spitfire Fund
Date(s) occurred: 15 November 1940 - 15 May 1941
Account of events: At the Fall Formal in November 1940, held at Memorial Hall, the UNB Spitfire Fund was launched in an effort to aid the war effort. The goal was to raise enough money to purchase a Spitfire plane. Under the direction of chairman of the Spitfire Fund Committee Darrell "Dag" Munro, students spent the school year raising funds through a number of means. The Spitfire Fund Committee sold souvenirs made from pieces of the Lieutenant-Governor's flag-pole as well as soft drinks at the Fall Formal, organized a coat-check as well as a canteen in the new Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium, and raised money at the annual Conversazione.
The UNB Dramatic Society also greatly contributed to the fund by donating the proceeds of several one-act plays presented in the fall of 1940.
The Ladies Society hosted a sing-song at Memorial Hall and, over several "Penny Days," collected pennies from the male students across campus.
By May of 1941 the students had raised $500, which they then cabled to Lord Beaverbrook, who was the British Minister of Aircraft Production at the time.
See also: The Second World War at UNB
Source(s):
- Up the Hill, Organizations, 1941.
- UA Case 128; Section 2; File 7; Spitfire Fund.
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