Donald Duck Gets Drafted

[Sloan1874]

Fascinating BBC Radio4 documentary on Disney's involvement in US war time propaganda. Also explains why so many A-2s have Disney-style patches on them.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0680gts

 

[Stearmen]

All of the early Lockheed PV1 Venturas, built in Burbank, had Disney cartoons painted just behind the entry door.

 

[Sloan1874]

Great images. I'd always wondered why Disney featured so heavily in USAAF imagery, and now I know.

 

[Otter]

Thanks for that link, will have a listen to that. I hadn't seen those Ventura shots before.

 

[Stand By]

I look forward to listening to that link whilst I work and I'm sure I'll enjoy it … thanks for posting.

I've always thought of Disney and Warner Bros. as being like Pepsi or Coke - although both are the best, people seem to prefer the look of one over the other - and I've always just prefered Warner Bros., who also did work for the AAF in WW2.

This was always my favourite cartoon character patch and made in WW2 - I found it for sale (and copied the image here) when I'd ordered an Aero M422-A (before I discovered the joy that is the Aero ANJ-3 and switched my order) and, being a US Navy patch, I'd have put this on it in an ideal world - but the patch cost as much as the jacket! (but it was in absolute minty condition - and was constructed in lovely twill and silk). Beautiful colours and details.

 

[Sloan1874]

I had no idea that Gerald Scarfe had worked for Disney either.

 

[Otter]

Slightly off topic but related, the cartoons of Bill Mauldin are worth taking a peek at.

 

[Sloan1874]

He's got a lovely style.

 

[Otter]

Gritty realism. I am actually surprised they got printed.

 

[DanielJones]

Cheers!

Dan

 

[DanielJones]

Cheers!

Dan

 

[SIGGY]

Donald made it onto a Lot of emblems of all the branches of service , see some on my two sites on Facebook, "WW2 Fighter Group Unit Emblems" and "WW2 AAF Bombardment Unit Emblems" enjoy !!!!