This beautiful poster has been re-mastered from an original WWII patriotic poster from the early 1940’s, featuring the Curtiss P-40 fighter plane. The stunning image was painted by famed commercial artist J. Howard Miller (1918 – 2004). The message tells Americans working in the aircraft industry; “Let’s Be Our Own Inspectors.”
The vibrant colors and detail of this classic image have been painstakingly brought back to life to preserve a great piece of history.
The high-resolution image is printed on heavy archival photo paper, on a large-format, professional giclée process printer. The poster is shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, and is ready for framing.
The 13"x19" and 24”x36” formats are excellent image sizes that look great as a stand-alone piece of art, or grouped as a visual statement. These posters require no cutting, trimming, or custom sizing, and a wide variety of these frames are readily available at your local craft or hobby retailer, and online. The 24”x36” posters have a 1” white border.
A great vintage print for your home, shop, or business!
HISTORY OF THE CURTISS P-40 & WWII POSTERS
THE CURTISS P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. It was the third most-produced American fighter of World War II, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at Curtiss-Wright Corporation's main production facilities at Buffalo, New York.
WWII POSTERS
In the late 1930’s, and early 1940’s, Americans were divided over whether to join Britain and France in the war with Germany. It wasn’t until the surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, that the U.S. would be forced into World War II. When U.S. troops were sent to fight in the war effort, hundreds of artists were commissioned to create patriotic posters that would rally support on the home front.
Americans were vigorously encouraged to buy war bonds and take factory jobs to support military production needs. While men were sent to battlefields, women were encouraged to take “non-traditional” jobs such as riveters, electricians, and welders. The popular image of “Rosie the Riveter” came from this effort to recruit women into these roles.
To preserve materials and resources for the war effort, patriotic posters advocating carpooling to save on gas, cautioned against wasting food, and urged people on the home front to collect scrap metal to be recycled into military materials. Rationing programs were implemented in the spring of 1942, and limits were set on everyday purchases.
Many posters presented positive patriotic messages, while others used fear to rally support for the Allies and cautioned against leaking information to spies. One of the most famous sayings of the times was "Loose lips sink ships." Graphic images frequently depicted blood-thirsty enemies, and others contained derogatory images of soldiers and leaders with menacing, exaggerated features.
Today, these posters provide a glimpse into the nation's psyche and environment during World War II and how propaganda was used to link the home front to the front lines
