---
title: Oh high over enemy soil the guns can't be cocked or recoil - the lubricants froze - and the gunner now knows Joe Dope used the wrong kind of oil
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-wrong-oil-froze-guns-1941/
description: 'Ordnance Department cartoon poster for servicemen: a gunner in a bomber turret strains at a frozen machine gun while a crewman points at a fighter outside'
section: Collection
---

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3. Oh high over enemy soil the guns can't be cocked or recoil

[![Oh high over enemy soil the guns can't be cocked or recoil - the lubricants froze - and the gunner now knows Joe Dope used](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-wrong-oil-froze-guns-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/joe-dope-wrong-oil-froze-guns-1941.jpg)

# Oh high over enemy soil the guns can't be cocked or recoil - the lubricants froze - and the gunner now knows Joe Dope used the wrong kind of oil

Ordnance Department cartoon poster for servicemen: a gunner in a bomber turret strains at a frozen machine gun while a crewman points at a fighter outside, and a smaller panel shows ground crew reacting to a gun-oil chart. The verse blames 'Joe Dope' for the wrong oil. Name-calling aimed at a careless ordnance man, with the fear of an unfireable gun in combat.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

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

## Text on the object

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

```
Oh high over enemy soil
The guns can't be cocked or recoil -
    The lubricant's froze -
And the gunner now knows
Joe Dope used the wrong kind of oil!
CORRECT
OIL FOR
GUN LUBRICATION
CAL 50. - AXS-777
BUFFER
OIL - 2-36D
ARMAMENT SHOP
GUN LUBE
[struck through: LINSEED] OIL
[signature: WARRANT OFF. Will Eisner ORDNANCE]
```

[← Joe Dope takes a constant vacation from checking his tires' inflation](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/joe-dope-takes-a-constant-vacation-1941/) [Learn to keep your family strong & healthy - Join a Red Cross nutrition class →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/join-a-red-cross-nutrition-class-1941/)

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- [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.
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- [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.
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