Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
The Eyes of the Navy, 1939 UK poster: A colour picture of a Short Sunderland flying boat over the sea, with a Union flag

The Eyes of the Navy

A colour picture of a Short Sunderland flying boat over the sea, with a Union flag emblem marked 'For Freedom'. It is mainly informational. The tell for transfer is the flag and roundels carrying the message; the tell for card-stacking is that only the aircraft's range and patrol role are stated, with no results or losses.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

TransferCard stacking
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Unattributed: 'For Freedom' emblem with Union flag; no issuing body, printer or artist named on the sheet
Region
Western and Central Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Churchill Government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Audience
Mixed
Purpose
Persuade or win support
Themes
War and the military, Science and technology
Event
World War II
Regime
Churchill wartime government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Source
Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Held by NARA, Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
Unattributed ('For Freedom' emblem, GPD/ED9/6). National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-337e.

Text on the object

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

THE EYES OF THE NAVY

"SUNDERLAND" FLYING BOATS can fly very long distances without re-fuelling. These Coastal Command flying boats are the eyes of the British Navy for they patrol the seas and keep a constant watch for enemy shipping. They then wireless the position of hostile craft to Navy destroyers.

[imprint:] FOR FREEDOM  GPD/ED9/6

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