Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Help Britain Finish the Job!, 1939 UK poster: A painting of an RAF fighter diving past German bombers, one trailing fire

Help Britain Finish the Job!

A painting of an RAF fighter diving past German bombers, one trailing fire and smoke, above the line 'Help Britain finish the job!'. The viewer is asked to share in the pilot's success (transfer), and only British successes appear in the scene (card-stacking).

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

TransferCard stacking
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
His Majesty's Stationery Office, printed by Fosh & Cross Ltd, London; artist Frank Wootton
Region
Western and Central Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Churchill Government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
War and the military, Home front
Event
World War II
Regime
Churchill wartime government
Leader
Winston Churchill
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 Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
His Majesty's Stationery Office, printed by Fosh & Cross Ltd, London; artist Frank Wootton. National Archives and Records Administration, WWII Foreign Posters (NAID 44266616, 44-PF-210b).

Text on the object

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

HELP BRITAIN
FINISH THE JOB!

[signature in the painting:] WOOTTON

PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY FOSH & CROSS LTD., LONDON (51/501)

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