During the war, not only patches but the letterhead, matchbook covers. During world war ii, virtually every unit in the u. Walt disney, 19011966 walt disney productions created approximately 1,200 designs during world war ii for both american and allied military units. Service with character the disney studio and world war ii. Disney world war ii insignias the army mule has always been quite a character.
Several disney insignia art designs created for military units during world war ii are featured at the walt and the flying bull exhibit at the great park gallery in. Working with hank porter, roy williams, bill justice, van kaufman, ed parks, and george goepper, disney created more than 1,200 insignia throughout world war ii. During world war ii, the walt disney studios created over 1200 insignia for the us military. Walt disney designs, mermaids riding torpedoes among us navy submarine battle insignia. Daily, who has done contract work for lucas arts and disney studios, often in a lowbrow or street art style, said that world war ii had long fascinated him, making him an easy sell when asked to. After mickey mouse rode a goose in a patch for a naval reserve squadron stationed at floyd bennett field in new york, the illustrations became. The first patch is a cpo chief petty officer torpedomans mate dated 1944 and the second is a cpo gunners mate dated 1944. World war ii by the beginning of world war ii, all u. The photos below show copies of disney characters done by members of the royal new zealand air force, showing that disneys influence transcended the globe in the 1940s. Service with character the disney studio and world war ii kindle edition by lesjak, david, grabarski, sam.
Disney insignia from world war ii sass wire saloon. American military patches, other insignia and decorations. It did the same for allied military units from the united kingdom, canada, china. Disney also created more than 1,200 unit insignia during world war ii for all branches of the u. The patch was produced in a 5 diameter size, different from the many shoulder patches created for the other armed forces units, which were usually 2 12 in diameter. I have written one book covering disneys involvement in world war ii and run a facebook group called disney and the war that explores this fascinating chapter in the studios history. Military insignia military art back painting cool patches nose art dieselpunk wwii badge cartoon ted poe patches. The main provider of such insignias was the disney studios in burbank. During world war ii, the cartoon studio created hundreds of insignia for american troops. Second world war a gi wearing the 9 th division shoulder sleeve insignia contents. Art disney created for the armed forces in world war ii. After mickey mouse rode a goose in a patch for a naval reserve squadron stationed at floyd bennett field in new york, the illustrations became illustrious among units and inspired naval artists to recreate. Military rank, insignia, awards, seals, ceremonies rank, badges, insignia, etc. Insignia of united states army combat divisions of world war ii us army divisional shoulder insignia of wwii taken from a september 1945 issue of newsmap a reference guide map to us army combat divisions shoulder insignia.
War tattoo disney go propaganda art airplane art military art military history army patches nose art aviation art. The war years were very lean for disney because they lost access to the european audiences and also because the war department commandeered much of the studio facilities. During world war ii, disney had its artists draw up roughly insignias for the u. Walt disney served as an ambulance driver with the red cross at the conclusion of world war i in europe. Sometimes when youre in the thick of it, small details speak volumes. Because these badges and insignia are routinely pinned to a soldiers or officers uniform, they are frequently referred to as pins. World war ii marine corps aviation insignia national. The 8th squadron insignia first appeared in world war i when the squadron, then known as the 8th aero squadron, began operations in france in 1918, as the first united states air unit equipped with american built dh4 attack and. A complete listing of all navy squadrons and their insignia have not been compiled at this time due to the extensive nature of. The print is from february also, it is written where every division saw combat.
A donald duck insignia boosted morale, not just because it reminded soldiers of home, but also because it signified that the job they were doing was important enough to be acknowledged by walt disney. Disney dons dogtags posted in walt disney goes to war. Over the course of the war, disney artists designed more than 1,200 combat insignia for all branches of the us military and for its allies. Besides porter, i also have a large cache of material related to artist van kaufmans disneythemed insignia contributions. By the end of world war ii, disneys fiveman staff assigned to insignia completed over 1,200 unit insignias, never charging a fee to the military. The word pins is a catchall used to describe military badges and insignia for various armed forces around the world. Welcome, if youre a collector or aficionado of us navy patches, this is the place for you. The best of disney military insignia from world war ii. I will guess that many of us have this on their bookshelf, but like myself may have only looked at the illustrations. Donald duck zooms from an airlaunched torpedo, guiding it into its target.
After mickey mouse rode a goose in a patch for a naval reserve squadron stationed at floyd bennett field in new york, the illustrations became illustrious among units and inspired naval artists. The first semiofficial navy organizational insignia for both ships and aviation units began to appear following world war i, and for the latter, really took off in 1922 with the formation of fighting vf, scouting vs, observation vo, seaplane patrol vp, and torpedo vt squadrons. Us army air force, corps wwii squadron patch insignia. The insignia art of walt disney productions during world war ii the insignia meant a lot to the men who were fighting. Our high quality world war ii patches are professionally printed and perfect to sew onto backpacks, jackets and more to give them some unique personality. Disney studios went on to produce some 1200 military insignia of all types during the second world war. Walt disney designs, mermaids among us navy submarine. Us army airborne sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new filters. Logos are not just for corporations and sports teams. Additionally, you get a black and gold anchor and life ring iron on patch and a nice old usa patch. American military insignia of world war two illustrates a collection of patches or shoulder sleeve insignia and other insignia and decorations of the united states armed forces used during the second world war. Disney designed insignia are honored with a special exhibit at the national museum of the us air force in dayton. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Disney created an insignia design unit within disney productions studios. Other insignia not shoulder sleeve insignia war world two. World war ii sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new filters. Apr 10, 2020 explore jimhatss board disney ww2 patches, followed by 229. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. A valuable war effort by disney and disney studios, he created them freeofcharge. Company artists created images of disney characters for unit patches, eventually providing insignia to almost 1,300 units in the u. Disney insignia from wwii posted in walt disney goes to war. Headed by the talented draftsman hank porter, whom walt referred to as a oneman art department, the unit worked steadily throughout the war, turning out nearly 1,300 insignia upon request. War has always been hell, but at least american military insignia offered some humor when walt disneys animators were in charge of the marketing campaign. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading service with character the disney studio and world war ii. For thousands of soldiers in world war ii, disney insignias shouted hope, confidence and encouragement.
Official and unofficial us navy air patches, 1920s to today. Swamped in world war ii with requests from the military to use the worldfamous disney characters in creating distinctive unit insignia, the disney studio had to set up a special fiveman crew of artists to meet the demand for designs. The growth of aviation units and squadrons during world war ii led to new squadrons being established and new insignia to go with them. When the united states entered world war ii, one of the first places the army invaded was walt disney studios. The insignia and lineage in the above community listings are fore currently active navy squadrons. The characters emblazoned on these custom leather patch designs ranged from wellknown characters like donald duck and bugs bunny to original designs like the grim reaper and flying tigers. But space was not all that disney would provide the troops. Disney pins on wings national museum of the united. During world war ii, artists from disney and warner brothers joined together to create original logos for american troops.
Walt disney designed emblems for wwii planes and submarines. They were reproduced on a poster, in a recipe booklet, and in an extensive newspaper ad campaign. If you are interested in disney during world war ii. How the walt disney studio contributed to victory in the war by john baxter. For the generation that fought world war ii, disney character images possessed. For example, in 1942 the navy asked disney to design an emblem. As incongruous as disney characters are to the horrors of war, these cartoon military patches embodied pop culture, innocence, american. Patches reproduced either in color or black and white. The walt disney merchant marine emblem image of battlin pete was done by hank porter, who was the head of the ww ii insignia unit at disney studios. There also a few clothing patches and poster stamps shown. After mickey mouse rode a goose in a patch for a naval reserve squadron.
Interestingly, disney enlisted its artists to draw 1,200 logos for the u. By far, the single most requested and used disney insignia character during the war was donald duck, who was featured in at least 146 designs. During world war ii, disney had its artists draw up roughly 1,200 insignias for the u. During world war ii, the disney studio was taken over by the military as part of the war effort. Walt disney cartoon with the symbol of feb, made by brazilian soldiers in the 2nd world war, was published in the newspaper o globo expeditionary. The entire family of disneydesigned carrots included dr. World war ii insignia american military patches, other insignia and decorations of world war two. Disney insignia from world war ii mickey mouse sketch. Interestingly, disney enlisted its artists to draw 1,200 logos. Army troops requisitioned half of walt disneys burbank, california, studio for their use. Military insignia military art walt disney cartoons disney go vintage patches nose art vintage colors world war ii wwii honor. Disney insignia from world war ii during world war ii, disney had its artists draw up roughly 1,200 insignias for the u. During world war ii, disney devoted the majority of his studios resources toward producing instructional films for the united states and their allies.
Walt disney goes to war article the united states army. Disney donald duck wwii insignia cloth patch disney. The discovery of this collection of insignia provides an opportunity to study marine corps aviation in a new light. Walt disney even got into the act and drew up bat cartoon figures lineage of squadrons named hell razors sic. Disney world war ii insignia character design disney, air force patches. The best of disney military insignia from world war ii recollectible. Wwii usn squadron patch insignia page us navy logos. Disney was most prolific during the war as a morale booster for the troops. Walt disney served in world war i when he was 16 years old as a red cross ambulance driver. Current operational squadron insignia that have been officially approved by opnavinst. The site also gives information of interest to a collector. Us army patches camouflage patternsmilitary insignialogo stickerhistorical imagesnose artprint.