Artifact Friday: Disney's Military Patches

Throughout World War Two, Walt Disney used his artistic talent to create roughly 1,200

different patch designs to represent various units and military occupations. Many were used by

the military, particularly the Navy, and others went unused but remained well loved by the

American people. Many designs depict popular Disney characters performing military duties in,

of course, a cartoonish way. One patch shows Donald Duck sweeping for mines ahead of some

American warships. Another has a character, who looks strikingly similar to Porky Pig, repairing

an aircraft.

Currently on display in our newest exhibit, is a patch that was not adopted by any unit but

did represent Navy bombers. The patch depicts a black and white cat, referred to simply as

Tomcat, wearing a sailor’s cap and riding a falling bomb. The cartoonish nature of these patches

was in stark contrast to the usual military logos used throughout time. This lighthearted take on

representation gave servicemen and women a slight reprieve from the stress of war by providing them with a touch of popular culture from home.