American Toby Jug Museum 

The Airman character jug modeled by William K. Harper and produced by Royal Doulton of Burslem, England, in a 1994 special edition commissioned by Lawley's By Post. This jug, together with the Sailor and the Soldier, pays tribute to the conscripted men who served in various branches of the British armed forces during World War II. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the oldest independent air force in the world, formed on April 1, 1918. The RAF has taken a significant role in British military history since then, playing a large part in World War II. A defining period came during the Battle of Britain, when it held off the German Luftwaffe and helped to turn the tide of the war. The largest RAF effort during the war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. During the Cold War, the RAF's main role was the defense of the continent of Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union. Since the end of the Cold War, several large-scale operations have been undertaken, including the Kosovo war and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. An oxygen mask forms the handle of the jug. The National Service Edition features a different handle, in this case an oxygen mask. It was possible to have a National Service number incorporated into the accompanying certificate.