“See the Job Through” Wwii Army Air Forces Recruiting Poster by Charles Baskerville, 1945

This 1945 color poster features an American pilot and a ground crew Staff Sergeant shaking hands and the words “Seeing the Job Through! Enlist in the Regular Army Air Forces” at the bottom. Just below the airplane reads, “AAF The Greatest Team in the World.” Painted in the plane are nine flags representing nine enemy airplanes the pilot had shot down in his career, linking their current job to the recently ended war. Designed by Baskerville, his signature is printed at the top right corner of the work while the bottom right corner dates the print to “12-7-45.”

While WWII ended on September 9, 1945, the U.S. forces would occupy Japan until 1951 and Germany until 1956. The armed forces still needed the war-tired men to enlist to continue the missions immediately after the war to help restructure the former-Axis countries. Under U.S. occupation and reconstruction the Japanese rejected militarism and embraced democracy demoting the emperor to a status symbol and strengthening their Parliament as well as many other reforms. The occupation of Germany was split between the four major Ally countries and military, social, and governmental reconstruction efforts also took place.

Called the Army Air Forces, the U.S. Air Force as we know it today had not been formed yet. Originating through the army, the Army Air Force was formed in 1941 to assist missions in Britain but the importance of air power was quickly realized. By the end of the war, more than 2.3 million air missions had taken place. The country understood that the future of military power included air forces and it determined to keep one after the war. Recruitment posters such as this were spread across the country to entice young men to enlist as army pilots and continue operations.

CONDITION:

The poster is in very good condition and mounted on linen. At the bottom center of the poster, just above the “HE” in “THE” is a small crease. Otherwise, the print is in very good condition and is archivally framed in a sleek black frame and UV protective glass.

Framed Dimensions: 42.5” H x 29.5” W x 1.5” D