You can have silver wings
Army Air Forces recruiting poster aimed at 17-year-olds: a stylised illustration of winged 'AC' (Air Corps) badges receding diagonally against a blue sky, over the headline 'You can have silver wings'. The tell is a glittering-generality, 'silver wings' as a symbol of status, with the eligibility terms in plain text beneath.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army Air Forces (artist signed Fischer)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- 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 Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army Air Forces. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-63 (NAID 513530).
Text on the object
YOU can have SILVER WINGS If you are 17 and less than 18 you may be qualified now for membership in the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve and for future training as an Aviation Cadet with the U. S. ARMY AIR FORCES APPLY AT AVIATION CADET EXAMINING BOARD OR ANY U. S. ARMY RECRUITING STATION Men employed in essential war industries or engaged in agriculture will not be accepted. Men interested in Naval Aviation Cadet training may obtain information at any Navy Recruiting Station. This announcement is made with the approval of the Joint Army and Navy Personnel Board. [signature: FISCHER] [imprint: P-63-RPB-8-7-43-10M]
The printer's line at lower right is very small; its date is read with moderate confidence.
