---
title: If the bomb that you aimed like a charm won't go off
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-bomb-arm-lever-1943/
description: 'Bomb-arming instruction cartoon for aircrew in the Joe Dope series: a speech-bubble verse sits beside a panel of caricatured Japanese officers in a bombed'
section: Collection
---

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3. If the bomb that you aimed like a charm won't go off

**Content note:** Caricatured Japanese officers and the word 'Japs' appear in the cartoon, as printed. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![If the bomb that you aimed like a charm won't go off, 1943 US poster: Bomb-arming instruction cartoon for aircrew in the Joe](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-bomb-arm-lever-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-bomb-arm-lever-1943.jpg)

# If the bomb that you aimed like a charm won't go off

Bomb-arming instruction cartoon for aircrew in the Joe Dope series: a speech-bubble verse sits beside a panel of caricatured Japanese officers in a bombed room, a dud bomb on the floor, and an inset drawing of the arming lever. The slogan-style verse and the caricature work through name-calling of the enemy, with a practical arming-lever diagram.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Name-calling](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/name-calling/)

## Text on the object

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

```
If the bomb that
you aimed like a charm
Won't go off and do
Japs any harm,
Don't declare it's a dud
Until you're sure, bud,
That you moved that
old lever to "ARM."
?
If lever isn't at "ARM"...
when bomb is dropped it will fall with arming wire still in place
ARM
[handwritten pencil marks on the original, partly legible: "I see Jerry"; "Lar[illegible]"]
[signature: Cpl. Will Eisner, ORDNANCE]
[imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
[imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-518000
```

[← Jenny on the job: wears styles designed for Victory](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jenny-on-the-job-styles-for-victory-1943/) [Behold Joe Dope hitting his stride in taking some bombs for a ride →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-bombs-ride-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account.
- [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking)
- [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers.
- [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling)
- [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd.
- [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)