Safety Height for Bombing (Air Diagram No. 1295)
A monochrome painting shows an RAF twin-engined bomber releasing bombs while a second aircraft, caught in the blast of an earlier explosion, falls out of the sky above a column of fleeing vehicles and soldiers. The text tells crews not to let 'enthusiasm or excitement' override judgment and not to fly below the safe height for their bombs; the falling aircraft is the only fear cue.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1940
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Air Ministry (Air Diagram series); artist H. R. Millar, drawing credited to Flight; printed for HMSO by Jordison & Co. Ltd., London & Middlesbrough
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Chamberlain Government
- Leader
- Neville Chamberlain
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- Event
- World War II
- 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 Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
UK government poster; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), WWII Foreign Posters, NAID 44266164.
Text on the object
SAFETY HEIGHT FOR BOMBING Do not let enthusiasm or excitement affect your judgment. Remember the safety of your crew. When using instantaneous or short delay fuses, do not come below the safe height for the bombs you are using. [signature:] H.R. MILLAR Drawing by FLIGHT AIR DIAGRAM No. 1295—2/40 PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY JORDISON & CO., LTD., LONDON & MIDDLESBROUGH. 51-6366.
