---
title: Never in the Field of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed by So Many to So Few
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-battle-of-britain-never-in-the-field-of-human-conflict-1940/
description: A smiling airman in flying helmet and goggles is framed in a ring reading 'The Battle of Britain, August-October 1940'.
section: Collection
---

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3. Never in the Field of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed by So Many to So

[![Never in the Field of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed by So Many to So Few, 1940 UK poster: A smiling airman in flying helmet](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-battle-of-britain-never-in-the-field-of-human-conflict-1940.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-battle-of-britain-never-in-the-field-of-human-conflict-1940.jpg)

# Never in the Field of Human Conflict Was So Much Owed by So Many to So Few

A smiling airman in flying helmet and goggles is framed in a ring reading 'The Battle of Britain, August-October 1940', above Churchill's quotation credited 'Winston Churchill in 1940'. The words are attributed to the Prime Minister (testimonial) and the pilot's photographed prestige is attached to the national effort (transfer). Same quotation as a different poster already in the archive.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

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

```
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN AUGUST-OCTOBER 1940
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"
WINSTON CHURCHILL in 1940
```

[← In the Mediterranean, British Submarines Have Caused Great Havoc to Axis Shipping - Back Them Up!](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-back-them-up-submarines-mediterranean-1940/) [Beware of the Hun in the Sun →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-beware-of-the-hun-in-the-sun-1940/)

## 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.
- [Tomb of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam: the king in relief beside his inscription DNa, c. 490 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dna-inscription-darius-i-naqsh-e-rustam-490bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Testimonial, Card stacking)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial)
- [Estoire d'Eracles page with Bernard of Clairvaux preaching the Second Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 180v)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-bernard-preaching-second-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial)
- [Opening page of the Estoire d'Eracles (William of Tyre in French), with the Crucifixion and Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 1r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-urban-ii-preaching-first-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial, Transfer)