The other day my husband got a hold of a book we had been seeking for some time, Roald Dahl’s 1943 children’s book The Gremlins. The story is inspired by the mischievous “gremlins” folklore of RAF pilots and based on his own experiences as a pilot at the time. Those little gremlins always got the blame for mechanical problems, didn’t they? The copy we got was a wonderful 2006 reprint from Dark Horse Comics.

Dahl actually first published this story under the name “Pegasus” in 1942 in, believe it or not, Cosmopolitan Magazine when it was a lot cooler. One of the big reasons I wanted this tale was it going to be the basis for a Walt Disney Productions movie. The movie never happened, but the art featured in the book is still from Disney…and it is delightful.

See, back in the 40’s, Walt Disney Company was the epitome of soldier supporting patriotism, It was Disney who designed the symbol for the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, Fifinella. Fifi herself was gremlin originally appearing in Dahl’s book.

It was also the Walt Disney Company who designed the insignia for the famous Flying Tigers (artist Roy Williams to be exact) of the First American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China.

And, it was the Walt Disney Company who gave us one of the most notable pieces of political satire of the World War II era, 1943’s Der Fuerher’s Face starring Donald Duck. Today, this short film would be deemed racist and inappropriate for its stereotypes of Hitler and Hirohito, but it was full satire to show the horrors of the fascist regime. When it came out, it was so loved it even won an Academy Award for animated short.

The title song was also covered by Spike Jones and His City Slickers, and went on to be a huge hit for him.

As Donald Duck turned 90 this month year and Fourth of July is not far off, here’s a peek at a very important film in improving the morale and love of country during World War II…which was just a small part of what Disney did for the United States military at the time.

Things have certainly changed today, not just in the political makeup of the world, but in the Disney Company as well. However, we should never forget that before the string of misguided, rebrands and reboots, Walt Disney and his brand loved America, and they appreciated those who sacrificed so much to defend it.

Thank you, Walt for that, and giving of soldiers a reason to laugh.