The Disney Company unfortunately is not one to promote it's WW II history.  Which is a shame really.  When I approached the head Disney archivist with my idea for a book on the Studio's war effort, he bluntly told me there wouldn't be much of an interest.
 
Well, I went and wrote the book and I self-published it.  Needless to say, I have been extremely pleased with sales.  Collectors, military historians, school teachers, students and people with just an interest in the history of the company have bought my book and I have yet to get a bad review from anyone.  Most are surprised at the role Disney played.
 
Besides designing combat insignia, Studio artists assisted several Federal and State departments including the Treasury Department, War Finance Committee, Agriculture Department, War Manpower Commission, Food Distribution Administration and the War Production Board.
 
On the home front Disney characters promoted bond and savings, rationing and salvage campaigns, and were used in various other campaigns including those of the Red Cross.
 
Disney artists also produced over 75 military training films and several "psychological features" for the Office of the Co-ordinator of Inter-American Affairs.
 
My next book will look at the combat insignia officially designed by Disney artists, as well as the multitude featuring Disney characters created by men in the field, the unathorized use of Disney characters in German units, and the Disney character designs that were painted on planes leaving the Lockheed plant in Burbank.
 
So far, I have managed to identify 1,086 of the official designs.  I am starting to believe there were more than the 1,100 that is always quoted.  My research indicates there may have been around 1,300 designs created at the Studio during the war.
 
 

Forgot to mention.
 
Speaking of not offending anyone, the National Air Force Museum turned down one piece of original art for their current display.  Now granted, it was for a submarine, the USS Baya, but it was still original art.  The emblem pictured a bear tearing apart a Japanese flag.  The official reason for that art being turned down was that the museum didin't want to offend anyone.
 
I say that's disappointing as it is part of the history of the time.

Two interesting bits of info that have come from my interview with Maxine Porter, daughter of Henry "Hank" Porter (the Disney artist responsible for creating most of the designs at the Studio).
 
She told me her father was color blind!  He painted many of the designs himself and despite not being able to differentiate colors, he was able to tell if the completed insignia looked good by having them photographed in black and white and then analyzing the tones in the photo.
 
The paint used to color the insignia art was called Dr. Martin's.  This water-based paint came in little 1 1/2 ounce bottles and was very vibrant.  The paint was available in a multitude of shades, was variegated and was almost dye-like in quality.  The paint was dabbed onto a palette, a bit of water was added, and then the paint was applied.
 
One piece of original insignia art I have in my collection still retains the bright colors and it appears to me to be as vibrant as the day it was created.

Dave;

Dr. PH Martin's Radiant Concentrated Water Colors are still available for sale. Though difficult to find. They ARE NOT light fast and will fade pretty quickly if exposed to sunlight. I have illustrations I did about ten years ago and some of the colors are no longer visible. Granted some of the formulas may have changed over the years, but I would put your art in a light tight box or if it must be displayed, use a UV protected glass over it.

If I remember correctly, the yellows were most susceptible and went first and followed by the reds.

Ken

Ken Alexander
Son of 1st Lt. Clair B. Alexander Jr.
Pilot, B-24s: 10/12/1944 - 04/24/1945
15th AF, 49th Wing, 461st BG, 764th BS
Torretta Airfield, Cerignola, Italy

Thanks for that Ken. 
 
My piece of original art for the USS Kenton is quite faded, while the piece of art for the USS Escambia is very vibrant.  I have one friend who owns around 2 dozen pieces of Disney insignia art and they are pretty much still vibrant.  I suppose the color depends on how the art was stored.  I'm surprised so much of the original art has survived, considering alot of it was delivered to men in theater.
 
My Escambia art has a couple of streaks on it where a few drops of rain hit it when one of the Yeoman had the art topside and was caught out in an unexpected rain squall.

It's not surprising that the NAFM did not want to offend. I remember a number of years ago the National Air and Space Museum wanted to change/delete the display of the Enola Gay as it might offend our Japanese visitors. It really caused and uproar. It's all part of revisionist history.
 
Terry

Hi Terry.
 
Can't recall which unit...I'd have to look in my database at home, but there was a bomber sq that had a sanctioned insignia done by a Disney artist that depicted a very non politically correct African native.  A friend of mine has a leather patch of the image.  I have no doubt that The Disney Company would heavily frown upon this image being circulated today.
 
What everyone needs to remember is this is what was done 60 - 65 years ago and is not reflective of mainstream society today...it's part of our history and to suppresss the display or discussion of such things is, in my opinion, wrong.

I just remembered I have a cd containing my Disney inisgnia database in my briefcase.  The design mentioned above was created for the 449th Bombardment Squadron in July 1942 and depicts an African native throwing a bomb.

I am interested in finding out about the 398th and its patch. My mother found my dad's patch in the back of a closet. It must have been there for 45 years untouched in a kraft envelope with a certificate of appreciation.
 
I was told that Disney designed it, but my dad told my mother that he designed it and I have talked to one fellow who was stationed with my dad that he designed it. I even took the patch to the Antique Roadshow. The appraiser told me it looked similar to a Disney design but was not. So, did Disney or my dad designed the patch? My dad died in 1986. He was stationed on Tinian with the 398th and worked on the machine gun mechanisms on the Super Fortress aircrafts. He used to talk about painting the planes with the ladies, and on one event, painting clothes on some. They washed them back off with some brass left base. I know that Seebees painted the planes, but I do know he had several Seebee friends on the island, so that makes sense to me.
 
If someone has info on the 398th patch, please contact me.
KWG -- jkgeary@bellsouth.net

Dave - in WWII  Combat Squadrons by Maurer there is a 449th Patch illustrated as the one you describe.
Underneath the illustration is note :Copyright Walt Disney Productions.
Mike

Hello KWG.
 
Disney artists did design an insignia for the 398th Bombardment Group, 603rd Bombardment Squadron.  The design pictures Mickey Mouse's arch-enemy Peg Leg Pete chewing on a cigar that is in the shape of a bomb.  I believe this design was created in 1943, but am unsure of the month.
 
If this isn't the design you are talking about, please let me know.
 
Maybe your father is the one who came up with the original design idea?  He could have sent a letter to Disney, who then had one of his artists create the image based on your father's idea.  Many men included possible specific design elements in their letters.  In pretty much every case, Disney artists would try and use as much of what was suggested in the letter when creating a design.

Thanks Mike.
 
There is no doubt the 449th design was created by a Disney artist.  I saw the image in one of the insignia books at the Archives in Burbank around 10 years ago.  I just think that in today's politically correct environment, the design is not one Disney would want publicized.

For those of you interested in such things, I have created my own blog that will examine Disney's involvement in WW II.
 
Here is the address:  http://toonsatwar.blogspot.com/
 
I plan on exploring Walt Disney's home-front related activities and his Studio's contribution to the creation of an estimated 1,100 - 1,300 combat insignia.
 
I'm a pretty busy guy, but I will endeavor to share some of my Disney war related collection and research material through this blog.  Feel free to post comments or ask questions either in this forum or on my blog.

I've posted some interesting insignia items on my blog:  http://toonsatwar.blogspot.com/

Dave -  Interesting Stuff. When I look through my copy of WW II Combat Squadrons by Mauer I realize how many of the colorful , whimsical Patches I have seen were Disney creations. Many other patches seem to have taken their cue from Disney. I have heard that there were some former Disney Artists in the Military. I just ran across some terriffic 96th Bomb Group Nose Art by a former Diney Studios Animator , Sgt. Johnnie White. " Wabbit Twacks III "  ,  " Ole Puss "  ,  " Boots IV "
Keep up the Good Work !
Mike

Thanks Mike!
 
I think I have around 250 or so Disney WW II related items in my collection now.  About 1/2 are insignia related and the other half home front related.  My Disney insignia database has listings for almost 1,100 designs now and I have located images for just about 1/2 of them.  I'm looking for a publisher right now.
 
I post images on my blog when I have time, but with my writing for WW II magazine, research projects, regular dayjob, wife's 2 businesses and a young family, there's never enough hours in the day.  Oh well, I enjoy what I do.
 
Will try and post some more insignia stuff on the blog this coming weekend.
 
Thanks for checking it out!
 
David
 

Hello everyone.
 
I have added a few Disney insignia images to my blog and some background on Disney insignia artist Hank Porter.  Feel free to ask quesitons or leave comments on the blog or here in this post.  I have another great photo of Hank Porter at his desk and you can see several neat insignia images - will try to post that 2nd photo by the weekend.
 
http://www.toonsatwar.blogspot.com
 
Cheers,
 
David

Lots of new posts on my blog...VF-19 Satan's Kittens, NAB Hutchinson, 22nd Pursuit Squadron, 15th Observation Squadron and more...including some rare Disney WW II Christmas related images.

Regards,

David

Dave - Cool Stuff!!! A bit of Trivia - during February 1945 , the 305th BG was tasked with dropping experimental Rocket propelled Bombs on Sub - Pens. So large they were mounted on Wing Racks.
The Operation was code named the  " Disney Project "  , and  " Disney Bombs " were dropped on targets.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for the info Mike!  Any idea why they used the name "Disney" when referring to the project or the bombs?  I know Dumbo was used in reference to the PBY flying boats and Pluto was in reference to the underwater pipeline strung under the Channel after D-Day. 
 
Mickey Mouse was alledged to have been one of the code words for the D-Day landings but this has never been confirmed.  An exhaustive search was done by the head of the Disney Archives, including a search at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, and no documentation has been found yet to back-up this claim.
 
Check out my blog for some updates, including the use of Disney characters by German, Russian and Free French units.
 
http://www.toonsatwar.blogspot.com
 
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year's!
 
David