Modern Mechanix » WWII POWs get a Disney Designed Insignia
This May, 1945 article from Popular Science tells the story of how American POWs in a Nazi prison camp were smuggled a custom Donald Duck logo prepared by the Walt Disney Studios on the back of a Red-Cross delivered postcard.
DRY YANKEE HUMOR is puzzling guards at a German base prison camp for Allied airmen, since American POW’s there decided to adopt insignia to show their new status. The postcard below, sent by Capt. Robert H. Bishop, a bomber navigator now at the camp, brought the design at the right from the Walt Disney studios to Germany, via the Red Cross.
Not sure about smuggled per say. He mailed it through the red cross program for mailing loved ones. What isn’t said, but what I assume, is that Disney some how got the logo back to them… or awarded them the patches on being freed.
Tags: Art, Cartoons, History, Interesting
I know the history of this design…I collect Disney war related items. I was able to locate and interview the vet who created the original design, and the son of the woman the postcard in the magazine article was sent to.
Very cool. Was this the only Stallag to have this? Did Disney do others?
Thanks for commenting, I’d love more information.