The Museum of Flight in Seattle is showcasing "The Walt Disney Studios and World War II" exhibit, detailing Disney's extensive, non-profit contributions to the Allied war effort.
Walt Disney Studios dedicated 90% of its output to producing technical training films for military and industry, alongside propaganda and morale-boosting cartoons for both service members and the home front.
The studio designed over 1,300 custom unit insignia patches for various military groups, often featuring popular characters like Donald Duck and unique creations such as Fifinella for the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
The war significantly impacted Disney's workforce, leading to male animators enlisting or being interned, and women stepping into animation roles, some of whom were offered permanent positions after the war.
When World War II broke out, everyone in America did their part for the war effort—including Walt Disney.
You can see it for yourself at the Museum of Flight (MOF) in Seattle in the new exhibit The Walt Disney Studios and World War II. The exhibit is made possible through a partnership with the MOF and The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
