USAF Museum: 1950's Recruiting Posters

[gwb123]

Like all major museums, the USAF Museum in Dayton uses every available space for exhibiting its holdings. That includes the Refueling Cafe, which overlooks the Cold War Gallery on one end, and the Missile Gallery on the other. This face features a colorful selection of what appear to be 1950's recruiting posters. This fits in well with the themes of the two adjoining galleries.

 

I think this one might be my favorite, and it certainly is dramatic enough to catch the eye of a young recruit. Who wouldn't want to be at the controls of a sleek B-47 screaming skyward with the assistance of JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) boosters!

 

Notice the list of available specialties, including "Atomic Weapons"!

[gwb123]

Another B-47 themed poster, with a rugged square jawed pilot looking warily skyward! This is a good one for helmet and flight gear historians.

[gwb123]

While we are on the theme of macho pilot types, this poster evokes the huddle of a major league football team. I've included close ups so our Air Force collectors can identify the unit insignia on the helmets. Also note what appear to be F-86D's flying in the sky above. These flew between 1949 to 1961.

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/198076/north-american-f-86d-sabre.aspx

 

As a side note for photographers... you will note the glare from the overhead lights reflecting on the glass surface of the frame. This was the best angle I could get on this poster without having it completely obscured by glare.

[gwb123]

Here's another pair of pilots who are absolutely gleeful about being able to soar the heights with an airplane provided by Uncle Sam!

 

Note the flight gear, helmets and blue flight suits.

 

The aircraft appear to be Korean War era F-80's, which puts this poster at the early 1950's.

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196116/lockheed-f-80c-shooting-star.aspx

[gwb123]

Of course, before you can join this happy elite, you have to go through months of training and selection. Apparently our subject here is quite proud to have earned his wings, as well as that yellow 2nd Lieutenant's bar on his shoulder!

 

Notice the psychological trick and hook of this poster... by obscuring most of the face, the viewer can easily project themselves into this image, as if looking into a mirror. Hey, that could be me!

[gwb123]

This one is a bit of an oddball, as it is recruiting for a specific job specialty other than a pilot.

 

The plotting equipment detailed in this picture is interesting in itself.

 

However, the individual shown is a bit dour compared to the posters of our every happy flyers.  Perhaps he is disappointed he was slotted in an endless ground job.

 

Notice the map in the background, alluding to the "global reach" of America's postwar Air Force.

[gwb123]

This is my other favorite, this one focused on a USAF enlisted man.

 

Notice the red squadron cap, and those grey fatigues the Air Force issued for a short period.

 

The jeep is a correct Air Force blue with yellow markings.

 

The aircraft are F-100 Super Sabres, the first of the "Century Series" generation of aircraft of the mid-1950's.

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/196002/north-american-f-100f-super-sabre.aspx

 

[gwb123]

Eventually we move into the space age.

 

Note the appeal here to former servicemen to reenlist.

[gwb123]

And to round things out, here are a pair of posters appealing to women to sign up.

 

Notice a different tone here. Air Force women are shown as glamorous, and with opportunities they cannot find elsewhere. It was a powerful message back in the 1950's and 1960's when options for women were much more limited.

[gwb123]

Hope you enjoyed the tour! While this thread was about the posters on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, feel free to add other examples if you have them.

[Dirk]

Gil these are fantastic! Like the graphics from this era. Thank you for sharing these

[Bluehawk]

This one is a bit of an oddball, as it is recruiting for a specific job specialty other than a pilot.

 

The plotting equipment detailed in this picture is interesting in itself.

 

However, the individual shown is a bit dour compared to the posters of our every happy flyers.  Perhaps he is disappointed he was slotted in an endless ground job.

 

Notice the map in the background, alluding to the "global reach" of America's postwar Air Force.

Interesting too is that they chose to illustrate what appears to be either a YB or and XB-52 as the bomber - which probably dates the poster to ca. 1951-52?

[Ultra Hog]

On 12/23/2016 at 12:58 AM, gwb123 said:

While we are on the theme of macho pilot types, this poster evokes the huddle of a major league football team. I've included close ups so our Air Force collectors can identify the unit insignia on the helmets. Also note what appear to be F-86D's flying in the sky above. These flew between 1949 to 1961.

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/MuseumExhibits/FactSheets/Display/tabid/509/Article/198076/north-american-f-86d-sabre.aspx

 

As a side note for photographers... you will note the glare from the overhead lights reflecting on the glass surface of the frame. This was the best angle I could get on this poster without having it completely obscured by glare.

Clockwise, starting from the inverted white helmet on top, 

 

> 8th FBW, Korea 1950-53

> 4th FIW, Korea 1951-53

> 116th FBW, Korea 1950-52 

> 18th FBW, Korea 1950-53 

> 51st FIW, Korea 1950-53

> 49th FBW, Korea 1950-53