1942-1945 - Three Japanese propaganda leaflets intended to degrade the morale of American soldiers fighting for control of Pacific Islands

These three propaganda leaflets were airdropped by the Japanese over American units fighting for control of Pacific Islands. Japanese propaganda leaflets have not received the same level of study as those produced by the Germans in Europe, so it is not possible to know for sure on which islands these were distributed. It is likely, however, that their distribution did not begin until the summer of 1942 after General Douglas MacArthur began the allied island-hopping campaign, beginning with the retaking of the Solomon Islands in August, that led to the defeat of Japan; Even fewer would have survived if these had been distributed early in the war as few allied soldiers would have kept them as souvenirs through four years of prison after surrendering at Corregidor, Guam, or other islands initially captured by the Japanese. All of these leaflets show wear and soiling. One has two small pieces of paper tape on the reverse.

"Framed" - This b/w cartoon leaflet shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushing an angry and resistant American soldier (wearing a WWI-style helmet rather than a later 'steel pot') onto a Pacific Island titled "The Unknown." It is captioned, "You did not want to fight. You did not want to leave your sweetheart, your mother your kids - You did not ever think it would be necessary for you to dig your own grave. He did it all for you!"

"Jilted, Re-Jilted" - This colorful five-panel cartoon shows the emotions of an American soldier (again wearing an early style helmet) stranded on a Pacific Island, perhaps symbolizing the earlier Fall of Corregidor. The first panel, "Elation," shows the soldier celebrating as a U.S. naval vessel appears on the horizon either with reinforcements or for evacuation. The second, "Deflation," shows him horrorstruck as the ship is sunk. The third, "Anticipation," shows him hopeful as he spies four approaching ships. The fourth, "Perdition," shows him agitatedly throwing his rifle into the sea as those four vessels are sunk. The final, "Exasperation," shows him angrily shouting and shaking his fists toward the rear as gunbarrels from Japanese battleships point at him.

"Killed in Action" - This vibrantly colored leaflet shows the rotting corpse of an American soldier (again wearing an early style helmet) lying on a map of New Guinea with a "Citation" signed by General MacArthur in the background. The caption reads Killed in Action! Died that the jungles of New Guinea might again rest in peace."