---
title: Guide the fighter planes. Join the Army Air Forces Ground Observer Corps
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/guide-the-fighter-planes-ground-observer-corps-1942/
description: A volunteer observer in a plaid jacket and cap speaks into a telephone while twin-engine aircraft fly in formation across a night sky.
section: Collection
---

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3. Guide the fighter planes. Join the Army Air Forces Ground Observer

[![Guide the fighter planes. Join the Army Air Forces Ground Observer Corps, 1942 US poster: A volunteer observer in a plaid](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/guide-the-fighter-planes-ground-observer-corps-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/guide-the-fighter-planes-ground-observer-corps-1942.jpg)

# Guide the fighter planes. Join the Army Air Forces Ground Observer Corps

A volunteer observer in a plaid jacket and cap speaks into a telephone while twin-engine aircraft fly in formation across a night sky; a red panel asks civilians to volunteer at a local Civilian Defense Office. The appeal rests on the flattering duty phrase 'Guide the fighter planes' and the ordinary civilian shown doing it.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Guide the fighter planes

JOIN THE ARMY AIR FORCES
GROUND OBSERVER CORPS
FIRST FIGHTER COMMAND
Volunteer at your local Civilian Defense Office!

[armband:] U.S. ARMY AWS AIR FORCE OBSERVER
[signature:] [illegible]
[imprint:] P-43-(X-1FC-1)-RPB-10-5-42-100M
```

[← "Good work, sister" "We never figured you could do a man-size job!" America's women have met the test!](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/good-work-sister-americas-women-1942/) [A Half-Filled Stamp Album is Like a Half-Equipped Soldier →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/half-filled-stamp-album-half-equipped-soldier-1942/)

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