Army-Navy ‘E’ Award
Encyclopedia
The Army-Navy "E" Award was an honor presented to a company during World War II
for excellence in production of war equipment. The award was also known as the Army-Navy Production Award. The award would consist of a pennant
for the plant and emblems for all employees in the plant at the time the award was made. The pennant was triangular swallowtail
with a white border, with a capital E within a yellow wreath of oak and laurel leaves on a vertical divided blue and red background. ARMY is on the red background and NAVY on the blue background.
Usually an Army officer and a Navy officer would be present at a ceremony when a company would assemble all the employees and a ceremony would ensue. After the award of the pennant to the plant (to be flown), the employees present would receive their pins. A total of 4,283 companies received the award in the course of the war. This amounted to about 4% of the companies engaged in war work. Plants with continuing excellent work were awarded stars to add to their pennant. A handful of plants earned up to six stars by the end of the war. The Army-Navy "E" Award program was terminated after the war ended.
's administration. The award was a Navy E-Award, which was to commend superior naval service. Later awards continued in World War I and until early in World War II were the Navy E, the Army A and the Army-Navy Star.
an award was created to encourage production of war time materials. The Army-Navy E-Award came into existence in July 1942 when the Navy E and Army-Navy Munitions Board Award were merged. Plants which had earned a Navy E Award previous to this date were permitted to continue with their earlier awards.
All plants engaged in war production were eligible to receive the award. Government as well as privately owned plants were eligible, as well as subcontractors or prime contractors.
Some factors which were considered in selecting recipients were:
District procurement officers would recommend plants to the Commanding General, Material Command, of the Army Air Forces. The recommendations would be accompanied by the reasons for such recommendations.
The Award Board would review the recommended plants. Other methods of nominations and recommendations were also allowed.
receiving their original Army-Navy E-Award were granted a star award. A white star was added to the pennant.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for excellence in production of war equipment. The award was also known as the Army-Navy Production Award. The award would consist of a pennant
Pennon
A pennon was one of the principal three varieties of flags carried during the Middle Ages . Pennoncells and streamers or pendants are considered as minor varieties of this style of flag. The pennon is a flag resembling the guidon in shape, but only half the size...
for the plant and emblems for all employees in the plant at the time the award was made. The pennant was triangular swallowtail
Swallowtail (flag)
In flag terminology, a swallowtail is either# a V-shaped cut in a flag that causes the flag to end in two points at the fly; or# any flag which has this V-shaped cut....
with a white border, with a capital E within a yellow wreath of oak and laurel leaves on a vertical divided blue and red background. ARMY is on the red background and NAVY on the blue background.
Usually an Army officer and a Navy officer would be present at a ceremony when a company would assemble all the employees and a ceremony would ensue. After the award of the pennant to the plant (to be flown), the employees present would receive their pins. A total of 4,283 companies received the award in the course of the war. This amounted to about 4% of the companies engaged in war work. Plants with continuing excellent work were awarded stars to add to their pennant. A handful of plants earned up to six stars by the end of the war. The Army-Navy "E" Award program was terminated after the war ended.
History
Initially, the awards were created during Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's administration. The award was a Navy E-Award, which was to commend superior naval service. Later awards continued in World War I and until early in World War II were the Navy E, the Army A and the Army-Navy Star.
World War II
In order to encourage industrial mobilizationMobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
an award was created to encourage production of war time materials. The Army-Navy E-Award came into existence in July 1942 when the Navy E and Army-Navy Munitions Board Award were merged. Plants which had earned a Navy E Award previous to this date were permitted to continue with their earlier awards.
All plants engaged in war production were eligible to receive the award. Government as well as privately owned plants were eligible, as well as subcontractors or prime contractors.
Some factors which were considered in selecting recipients were:
- Quality and quantity of production
- Overcoming of production obstacles
- Avoidance of stoppages of work
- Maintaining of fair labor standards
- Training of additional labor forces
- Effective management
- Good records on accidents, health, sanitation and plant protection
- Utilization of subcontractors
District procurement officers would recommend plants to the Commanding General, Material Command, of the Army Air Forces. The recommendations would be accompanied by the reasons for such recommendations.
The Award Board would review the recommended plants. Other methods of nominations and recommendations were also allowed.
Addition of stars
Plants that maintained an outstanding record of performance for six months afterreceiving their original Army-Navy E-Award were granted a star award. A white star was added to the pennant.