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
- 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-1143J (NAID 514703).
Text on the object
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
