---
title: The murder of a fine Cal. .50 killer by Joe Dope (Reel-2)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-murder-cal-50-1943/
description: 'Six-panel comic for aircrew: Joe Dope fires a whole drum from a .50 calibre gun in the air fight, melts the barrel and then mourns it at a grave marked'
section: Collection
---

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3. The murder of a fine Cal. .50 killer by Joe Dope (Reel-2)

[![The murder of a fine Cal..50 killer by Joe Dope, 1943 US poster: Six-panel comic for aircrew](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-murder-cal-50-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-murder-cal-50-1943.jpg)

# The murder of a fine Cal. .50 killer by Joe Dope (Reel-2)

Six-panel comic for aircrew: Joe Dope fires a whole drum from a .50 calibre gun in the air fight, melts the barrel and then mourns it at a grave marked 'R.I.P.'. The title and 'Joe Dope' character use name-calling against the careless gunner, softened by humour.

## 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

```
THE MURDER OF A FINE CAL .50 'KILLER' BY Joe Dope REEL-2
[grave marker:] R.I.P. CAL. 50 AC
ALOFT IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT
JOE DOPE WOULD BE "ACE" OVERNIGHT
SO HE SHOOTS A WHOLE DRUM
- DOESN'T COOL OFF TH' GUN
... HEAT'S MELTED
THE BARREL JES' RIGHT!
[signature: WARRANT OFF. Will Eisner]
[imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-562295
[plate mark:] A11
```

[← Misled by publicity stuff Joe Dope feels it's smart to be rough](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-misled-by-publicity-jeep-1943/) [The murder of a perfectly good differential (reel-1) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-murder-of-a-differential-1943/)

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