The Famous British "Spitfires" Flying in Formation
Eleven Spitfire fighters are shown in formation against a sky, one large in the foreground, over a caption claiming each can fire over 6,000 cannon and machine-gun bullets per minute. The tell is the single capability figure given without comparison, source or conditions.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Artist James Gardner; issuer not stated (mark 'P.I.'; a faint reversed stamp appears to read 'British ... New York')
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Foreign public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- Event
- World War II
- 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 (publication 1939-1945, UK origin)
James Gardner (artist); issuer not stated (P.I.). National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-443.
Text on the object
THE FAMOUS BRITISH "SPITFIRES" FLYING IN FORMATION. EACH MACHINE CAN FIRE AT THE RATE OF OVER 6,000 CANNON AND MACHINE GUN BULLETS PER MINUTE. [signature:] JAMES GARDNER [imprint:] P.I.
