Content note: Caricatured Japanese officers and the word 'Japs' appear in the cartoon, as printed. This object is shown as it was published. Why
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
- 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-1143LL (NAID 514708).
Text on the object
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
