‘Victory Verticals’ a Forgotten — and Restored

Steinway-made GI pianos are the focus of a new exhibit at the Museum of Flight.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, August 08, 2025 at 12:48 PM ET

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Meg Godlewski

Jordan Cook tunes a Victory Vertical. (Photo: Meg Godlewski/FLYING Magazine)

Key Takeaways:

During World War II, Steinway & Sons manufactured "Victory Vertical" pianos under military contract, specifically designed for durability and transport, often parachuted into war zones to boost troop morale.
The Museum of Flight in Seattle is showcasing these unique pianos in a new exhibit, featuring three restored instruments owned by collector Frank Haude, who conceived the exhibition.
These military-issue pianos, painted in olive drab or blue-gray and transported in specialized crates, highlight a little-known aspect of wartime life and the role of music in supporting soldiers.

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You may be familiar with the concept of pianos used as weapons—it happened frequently in cartoons—but did you know that Steinway & Sons, the makers of pianos since 1853, had a military contract to build pianos during World War II? And that these pianos, packed tightly in specially designed crates, were often parachuted into war zones?

The pianos, known as Victory Verticals, are the focus of an exhibit opening Saturday, August 9 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. You will find three of them placed among the exhibits in the WWII Personal Courage wing. In addition to the pianos, there are photographs with captions explaining the history and use of the instrument.