Content note: Verse uses the period term 'Hun' for German airmen. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Don't be a dope! Handle equipment right
Ordnance Department cartoon poster for servicemen: a gunner on a truck fires a heavy machine gun at diving aircraft, with a verse on a canvas panel telling him to clean the gun every three days. The slogan 'Don't be a dope!' is name-calling aimed at the careless soldier, set against the fear of a jammed gun under air attack.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army; artist Will Eisner
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1143R (NAID 514717).
Text on the object
When the Stukas begin to attack Ain't the time to make up for a lack Of cleaning your gun - Which won't shoot at a Hun With a month's gummy dust on its back! CLEAN IT EVERY 3 DAYS Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT [signature: WARRANT OFF. Will Eisner ORDNANCE] [imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-553727 23
