Today’s post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty.
We here at Prologue’s Pieces of History understand that history can be a very solemn study. Understanding past conflicts and pouring over the details of a battle, while exhilarating, can also be a trying, somber process.
But for all the wars and historic events that are cataloged in the National Archives, one thing is true: they often result in really funny photos, especially when pulled out of context.
And that’s why we want all you hard-working researchers and history aficionados to take a quick break and exercise your funny bone. We’ve compiled a growing number of awkward, strange, silly, and downright weird still images from our collection, and we’d like you to come up with funny captions for them.
Post your captions in the comment box below, and then our expert panel of judges (with occasional special guest judges) will announce who won the contest when we post a new photo next Thursday. Every winner will get 30% off a one-time purchase from the National Archives e-Store, too.
UPDATE: Our first guest judge is the Archivist, David S. Ferriero!
Here’s a caption to get you started:
“Oompah, loompah, doompa dee do…”
Mattress Sheik: The Latest Style in 1940s Men’s Ware
Polish paratroopers.
Oops! I mean:
Mattress Chic: The Latest Style in 1940s Menâs Ware
Hope the bedbugs don’t bite!
Santa Suit: Step 1
Hit me with your best shot ;
America’s first test dummies.
The evening hazing session starts at 8 pm.
Puching-ball human
Waiting for the dogs.
When regular Depends just won’t do…
The four brothers were determined not to “look like a fool wit’ yo’ mattress on the ground”.
Four bed-rolls to go!
Just in case there were people still unconvinced that the brothers were crazy, they tied on their mattresses and put on a fashion show for the neighbors.
“In my day, we didn’t have cups!”
This led to new US laws, which not only required mattress tags but also were stamped in bold letters with the message âDo not remove under penalty of law.”
The newest members of PAD: Pregnancy Apparatus for Dads.
The testing of the worlds first, and sadly unsuccessful, bullet proof vest.
The origin for the term “doughboys.”
Group photo – first annual meeting of Bedwetters Anonymous.
This is… ¿bulletproof vest?
Clean pipe and chimney sweeps
To jump from ship to ship at sea, the sailor is introduced into a canyon and is released and is picked up by a network in the other boat
To clean the inside of a large caliber cannon, tha sailor. The sailors are introduced into the barrel and dragged with ropes
“Hey Bill, fix your collar. You look ridiculous.”
Before there were parachutes…
Brian was horrified when he discovered that not one, but three other people wore the same outfit to the party.
These men are always prepared to go to the mattresses.
“What do you mean they don’t have a mattress check?”
Project Runway: The War Effort
“Does this outfit make me look fat?”
Stop drop and unrole!
The Japanese had hoped that Americans might embrace Sumo wrestling as a sport, however significant cultural differences arose that stymied their efforts.
“Isn’t it about time someone invented the parachute?”
The first ones that we tied to our feet didn’t work out well in the test trials.
The briefer historical inspiration for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – “DON’T ASK…”
The new silencers failed because none of the men could reach their sidearms.
All believed the enemy cavalry could easily be infiltrated by “human bedrolls.”
Sgt. Joe was known for his cruel way of dealing with bedwetters.
College students invent the first sleeping bags.
Preparations for shore leave were almost complete, if the lads could just convince Sgt. Joe they would not, once more, be looking for a fight.
Somehow, Cpl. Andy knew the salesman had not been completely honest in his glowing praise of the new “cloaks of invisibility.”
Suddenly, Pvt. Bill wished he had transferred his money to a wallet before leaving on his weekend pass.
Do we really need these if the TITANIC is unsinkable?
“When Good Munchkins Go Bad”
Well, *somebody’s* about to get the stuffing knocked out of them….
The SSG felt the punishment fit the crime, no doughboy would get gassed enough to call him a cootie ever again.
“Sir, I thought this was sleep study. I didn’t realize I signed up for a bed bug experiment.”
Who is the dummy now?
Gees, guys… If these are the outfits we had to wear for the police line-up, just imagining the crime involved makes my head hurt.
OK you two, no more excuses, if you don’t have to go, get back on the truck.
BP says that its “mattress shot” has an 80 per cent chance of success in plugging the leaking well.
Every soldier will make their bed each morning according to clear, governmental guidelines.
America Goes Over: At Heidelabed and Murphieabed the enemy first realized that the Yanks were there!
BP’s answer to unemployment and oil cleanup in the Gulf
Do these mattresses make us look fat?
Check out our new mattresses. They take “falling into bed” to a whole new level!