Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
They Need Spares to Use Their Wings, 1940 UK poster: Three Spitfire-type fighters in formation fly above a hangar scene

They Need Spares to Use Their Wings

Three Spitfire-type fighters in formation fly above a hangar scene in which ground crew work on a fighter with its propeller and wing stripped for repair. The slogan ties the factory worker's supply of spare parts to the aircraft in the air, a borrowing of the fighters' prestige for the less visible task.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Transfer
Date
1940
Period
Second World War
Made by
Ministry of Aircraft Production, via His Majesty's Stationery Office; printed by Multi Machine Plates Ltd, London
Region
Western and Central Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Churchill Government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
Home front, War and the military
Event
World War II
Regime
Churchill wartime government
Leader
Winston Churchill
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)
Ministry of Aircraft Production / His Majesty's Stationery Office; printer Multi Machine Plates Ltd. US National Archives, WWII Foreign Posters (NAID 44267249, 44-PF-462).

Text on the object

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

They need Spares
to use their wings

MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION.

PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY MULTI MACHINE PLATES LTD. LONDON E.C.4. 51-2896

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