Artifact Friday: Disney's Military Patches
Updated: Jul 25
Throughout World War 2, 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.
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