Military Payment Certificate
Military Payment Certificate is defined as "an instrument (scrip) denominated in US dollars that is used as the official medium of exchange in US military operations designated as military payment certificate areas". It was also called MPC.
It is our understanding that American Military scrip was used by RCAF personnel in France between 1952 and 27 May 1958 when scrip was changed for American dollars. Do happen to have any memories or detail pertaining to how RCAF personnel made use of American Military scrip? If so - please send us an email message - and we will gladly add your information to this article
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Extract from 1 Wing Historical Report
24 Jan 1956
F/O Stacey and Moore flew the C-45 to 4 Wing. They stopped at 3 Wing and dropped F/O Lockhart to investigate a prang. In 4 Wing they picked up the payroll; 18,000 in Scrip. Returned between snow storms.
Donald M Norrie (1955-1959) - I still have the 5, 10 & 25 cent scrip bills. The other denominations were $1.00, $5.00, and $10.00. On payday - which was held in the Rec Centre for Base personnel, and at the dispersals for squadron personnel - we were paid in scrip, and the accounts section always had a table where we could go and purchase French Francs. Scrip was the median used in all the base outlets. One day in 1958, on reporting for work we were all mustered in our respective sections and advised our unit of currency would change to the US dollar. We had (I think) 5 or 6 hours to make the exchange. Most of us married folks had to make our way back to our homes and collect the money in possession of our spouses. So it was a hectic few hours. A point of interest here is that "Ma Hemering" would exchange small amounts of scrip for French Francs if an airman was "stuck and in need". The deal was that the individual would come back and retrieve the scrip from "Ma" at a later date. But there were always those who didn't keep their word and "Ma" was always stuck with some MPC. However on "exchange day" the feelings many airmen had for this wonderful lady surfaced when at least at half dozen airmen converged on "Ma's home" to get any scrip she might have and exchange it for US dollars. As I recall it was one of the Med A's that wound up doing the duty for her.
Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report
25 May 1954
As a result of a high level classified conference at this unit with SOAF and members of his staff, where preparatory measures were effected to declare worthless at 0500 hours on 25 May all US Military Payment Scrip and re-issue the new MPC in lieu. Therefore unit personnel commenced at 0500 hours to implement the plan to go into effect at 0700 hours. By 1200 hours, the unit was literally "bankrupt" pending the re-issue of the new MPC. This was actioned at 1500 hours and by 1600 hours the complete change-over was completed. Appended are all copies of the various orders, notices, instructions, etc. that were issued.
Keith Roberts (1952-1956) - Donald Norrie covers the use of scrip very well. It was the only currency used on the station as well as in any American PX to which we had access. Donald speaks of the method of conversion to US currency and at least one identical scenario played out on 25 May 1954 when the scrip itself was simply changed from one type/series to another and as he describes, it was a bit hectic. I'm sure Ma Hemering was never out too much coin because, as Donald explains, the boys looked after that nice lady. I am also led to believe that some ladies of the night (Paris, Amsterdam etc) experienced similiar problems. Mind you that is only heresay - I received the information third or fourth hand.
It is our understanding that American Military scrip was used by RCAF personnel in France between 1952 and 27 May 1958 when scrip was changed for American dollars. Do happen to have any memories or detail pertaining to how RCAF personnel made use of American Military scrip? If so - please send us an email message - and we will gladly add your information to this article.
We are fortunate to have some examples of American Military scrip (as used by RCAF personnel) made available to the web site.
| Issued: | 25 May 1954 |
| Withdrawn: | 27 May 1958 |
| Printer: | Forbes Lithograph |
| Block: | Regular: E-E Replacements: E- |
| Used In: | Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Ryukyus, Scotland, Trieste, Yugoslavia |
Table courtesy of Philip M Goldstein
| 5 cents | 27,216,000 |
| 10 cents | 26,880,000 |
| 25 cents | 14,448,000 |
| 50 cents | 11,088,000 |
| $1.00 | 28,000,000 |
| $5.00 | 6,400,000 |
| $10.00 | 24,400,000 |
Table courtesy of Philip M Goldstein
| Issued: | 20 June 1951 |
| Withdrawn: | 25 May 1954 |
| Printer: | Forbes Lithograph |
| Numbering & Separation: |
US Bureau of Engraving & Printing |
| Block: | Regular: D-D Replacements: D- |
| Used In: | Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Japan Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Ryukyus, Scotland, Trieste, Yugoslavia |
Table courtesy of Philip M Goldstein
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| Issued: | 22 March 1948 |
| Withdrawn: | 20 June 1951 |
| Printer: | Tudor Press |
| Numbering & Separation: |
US Bureau of Engraving & Printing |
| Block: | Regular: C-C Replacements: C- |
| Used In: | Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Japan Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Ryukyus, Scotland, Trieste, Yugoslavia |
Table courtesy of Philip M Goldstein
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