Just prior to and during WWII there were a number of awards for excellence in the production of war work.
The Navy E Award and the Army A Award were created about July 1941 and lasted until the creation of the Army-Navy E Award in July 1942 and continued until August 1945. There were 4,283 plants, approximately half a million workers, that received the Army-Navy E Award representing about 5% of the total number of plants that performed war work. The Naval Ordnance E Award was also created about 1941. This is actually the first type Navy E Award. The Maritime Commission had a Merit Award and these last two lasted throughout the war as separate awards. Here are some examples of the different types of award pins.
Navy E Award, two basic types; with the company name on the back and without.
Naval Ordnance E award three basic types; plain front, enameled front and painted front. This is the first type Navy E Award.
Army-Navy E Award, two basic sizes; 15/16" and 1 3/16" also found smaller than 15/16" the smaller ones are very scarce.
Unusual Army Navy E award pins
Maritime Commission Merit Award, two sizes
