Aircraft Identification Posters Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2019-00-00-37

Contents of the Collection

The Aircraft Identification Posters Collection is an artificial collection comprised of visual materials intended to help individuals on the ground identify both friendly and enemy aircraft during wartime. Materials in this collection range from 1916-1946, covereing both world wars. This collection conists of oversize documents such as posters, lithographs, and photomechanical prints. These documents were used to recognize aircraft flying overhead and intended for instructional purpose. Typically, these posters include images of aircraft in black silhouettes on white background.

Posters for aircraft from World War II make up the bulk of the collection with 49 different aircraft represented, including ones flown by Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the United States. Notable aircraft manufacturers include The Boeing Company, Curtiss-Wright, and North American Aviation. The majority of the posters were published in the United States; one poster identifying a Soviet PS-84 was published in Germany.

The collection also includes one poster (both an original and reprinted copy) from World War I, the “République Française Instructions” poster, dating to April 1916, which describes how to distinguish between allied and enemy aircraft.

Dates

Creation: 1916-circa 1946

Language of Materials

All of the materials are in English, except for one poster in French.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Extent

1.7 Cubic Feet (1 oversize folder (30x40"); 1 oversize folder (35x47"); 1 oversize box (24x32x3"))

Additional Description

Abstract

The Aircraft Identification Posters Collection is an artificial collection comprised of visual materials ranging from 1916-1946 designed to help individuals on the ground identify aircraft during wartime.

Other Finding Aids

A spreadsheet inventory is available upon request.

Custodial History

As an artificial collection, these materials were collected and acquired through a variety of sources. Provenance information has not been maintained for all items.

Accruals

This collection is expected to grow.

Related Materials

The Museums also has separate collections with aircraft identification slides, cards, booklets and related materials.

Processing Information

Processing work done prior to 2024 by archives staff included adding some materials to acid-free folders. In 2024, the archives staff began a review to bring the collection up to current best practices and to bring various artificial collections and "found-in-collection" items together. Materials were placed in acid-free folders, separated by archival tissue paper as needed, and arranged in order by series.