Content note: Caricatured bearded spy figure with a swastika pin, shown as printed. This object is shown as it was published. Why
If it shouldn't get out, Report It!
Security poster for an Army air field: a large scowling bearded man in a red suit, with a swastika pin and maps and prints stuffed in his pockets, strides off while a smiling cartoon roll of 'Confidential' papers tugs at his arm. The caricatured spy is the tell: fear-appeal and name-calling by image, with a phone number and Intelligence Officer named as the place to report.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- OCASC Intelligence Section, U.S. Army Air Field (as printed: Production of OCASC, Intelligence Section)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Security and surveillance
- 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)
OCASC Intelligence Section, U.S. Army Air Field. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1053 (NAID 514577).
Text on the object
If it shouldn't get out REPORT IT! U.S. ARMY AIR FIELD NO ADMITTANCE WITHOUT A PASS BY ORDER O[cut off] MAPS PRINT CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL IF YOU QUESTION IT-REPORT IT! COME, CALL 242 or WRITE - INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. PRODUCTION OF OCASC -INTELLIGENCE SECTION- [signature/mark: illegible]
