WWI British balloon distribution of propaganda leaflets. Men of the Hampshire Regiment checking wind direction.

WWI British balloon distribution of propaganda leaflets. Men of the Hampshire Regiment attaching leaflets to a balloon, near Bethune, France.

WWII RAF Nickel Raid. Distributing propaganda leaflets through the flare chute of a Whitley bomber.

WWII RAF Nickel Raid. Loading leaflets into the Whitley aircraft.

WWII The "M" Balloon Unit. As each balloon is inflated its appropriate load is made ready and the fuse lit on a nearby truck. Belgium.

WWII The "M" Balloon Unit. Inflating balloons from hydrogen cylinders. Uninflated balloons are seen stacked on the roadside.

WWII The "M" Balloon Unit. The load is now carefully hooked on to the balloon under the supervision of the CO, FLt. J.M. Woodcock, who also checks the fuse and the position of the leaflets and ballast.

WWII The "M" Balloon Unit. Now the balloon is released for its journey over enemy territory by Corporal J. Brace.

WWII The "M" Balloon Unit. Counter-propaganda leaflets among them are Safe Conduct Passes for Germans willing to surrender being loaded into the string cage which will carry them deep into Germany.

WWII BNA 6065 (Picture issued 1943) NA 6065 PROPAGANDA SHELLS LEAFLETS FIRED INTO ENEMY LINES BY 25 pounders.
A new method of distributing propaganda leaflets among enemy troops is now being evolved by the Psychological Warfare Branch of the 8th Army. The leaflets printed on both sides of a single sheet of paper are packed in roll form into 25 pounder shell cases. Each empty shell case can hold two rolls of the leaflets, making a total of 400 leaflets per shell. The projectile is designed to explode in the air over the enemy lines, at a height of some 300 feet, and then the leaflets float on their own to the ground, covering a wide area. They are printed in the appropriate language by a mobile printing press which travels with the Army and thus a regular news service can be sent over daily to the enemy's fighting troops, or to civilians in an area to be attacked with instructions on what to do.
Picture shows: Sgt E R Savill (RCA) of St Catherine, Ontario, demonstrating the relative size of shell, and a roll of leaflets.

WWII BNA 6067 (Picture issued 1943) NA 6067 PROPAGANDA SHELLS LEAFLETS FIRED INTO ENEMY LINES BY 25 pounders.
A new method of distributing propaganda leaflets among enemy troops is now being evolved by the Psychological Warfare Branch of the 8th Army. The leaflets printed on both sides of a single sheet of paper are packed in roll form into 25 pounder shell cases. Each empty shell case can hold two rolls of the leaflets, making a total of 400 leaflets per shell. The projectile is designed to explode in the air over the enemy lines, at a height of some 300 feet, and then the leaflets float on their own to the ground, covering a wide area. They are printed in the appropriate language by a mobile printing press which travels with the Army and thus a regular news service can be sent over daily to the enemy’s fighting troops, or to civilians in an area to be attacked with instructions on what to do.
Picture shows: Men of the Royal Canadian Artillery loading the propaganda shell.

WWII VICTORY 'FOLLOW THROUGH'
BEIRUT, LEBANON - A native examines a leaflet bearing the picture of General Sir Bernard L Montgomery, under which is the caption: 'Conqueror of Rommel'. The bit of paper was dropped by the RAF in a leaflet 'raid' over Beirut. French and British authorities have dropped about a half-million leaflets over Lebanon and Syria to 'drive home' the Allied victory in North Africa.

WWII PROPAGANDA SHELLS FOR FIFTH ARMY IN ITALY
On the Fifth Army front, leaflets are being sent over to the enemy lines in 25 pounds shells, of the smoke type with canisters removed. Some 250 leaflets can be packed into each shell. The news on the leaflets is varied; one type is called 'Front Post', and gives a weekly bulletin of major world news; another is in the form of a calendar. Some deal with our artillery and its effect, and the treatment of prisoners by the Allies, etc. The leaflets are printed by Psychological Warfare Branch, Fifth Army, and packed into shells by mobile ammunition laboratories. About 500 shells a week are sent over by the various artillery units at the front. Close-up of shells with smoke canisters removed, ready to receive leaflets.

WWII Cassino area, Italy. Standing in front of the captured German truck (Bernard) in which leaflets are printed are (L-R) T/Sgt Vincent P Milzarski, Pvt Julius Kudrowitz, a printer on the Empire State Press, and Pvt Maurice, a Frenchman from Tunis, who worked on the Impermie Rapide newspaper.

Captain Foster of the PWB/AFHQ Leaflet Section receiving a package of leaflets from Sgt Vincent Milzarski in the mobile printing truck.