PEARL
HARBOR, Hawaii, April 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- During World War II, America's
Greatest Generation did its part for the war effort – including
Walt Disney and the studio bearing
his name.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is
thrilled to showcase the inspiring work of Walt Disney and his studio during World War
II.
The day after Pearl Harbor was
attacked on December 7, 1941,
Walt Disney opened almost his entire
studio to support the war effort. Disney's war production included
more than 1,200 insignia for the Armed Forces and related auxiliary
groups, animated short films with favorite Disney characters, as
well as instructional media and government educational films,
posters, and publications. Disney's war production was deemed so
important to America that it was guarded around the clock by our
troops.
This year, from June 3 to December
30, visitors to Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on historic
Ford Island will be able to enjoy more than 550 stunning examples
of The Walt Disney Studios' extensive contributions to the Allied
war effort during World War II. The exhibition will be housed in
air-conditioned comfort at the Museum's Raytheon Pavilion. "The
Walt Disney Studios and World War II" exhibition is made possible
through a partnership between The Walt Disney Family Museum and
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and was curated by Kent Ramsey.
"We are excited to make these magical Disney historic treasures
available for our guests to enjoy," said Museum Executive Director
Elissa Lines. "Walt Disney dedicated himself and his entire
creative team to the war effort. Everyone, and especially Disney
fans, will want to visit the exhibition, because this is the last
time this exhibit will ever be shown."
During World War II, The Walt Disney Studios increased film
production hosted blood drives, planted a victory garden to
supplement food rations, and even put on Disney camp shows for our
troops. All of Disney's contributions to the war effort, which
played an important role in boosting morale, were produced without
profit—and much of the work was never reimbursed. "Tomorrow will be
better for as long as America keeps alive the ideals of freedom and
a better life," said Walt
Disney.
Disney characters were featured on insignia for hundreds of
military units worldwide. These insignia appeared on aircrafts,
ships, vehicles, buildings, clothing, and anywhere else the troops
could place them. Donald Duck was
the most-often used character in Disney World War II insignia,
appearing in nearly 150 designs. He also starred in many
morale-boosting and training films. Goofy was the second most
often-used Disney character, with Mickey
Mouse third.
"How could you turn them down?" said Walt Disney. "The insignia meant a lot to the
men who were fighting, and they didn't know who else to go to. I
had to do it. Those kids grew up on Mickey
Mouse. I owed it to them."
"Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is thrilled to showcase the
inspiring work of Walt Disney and
his studio during World War II," said Lines. "And the Museum's
iconic Swamp Ghost, a B-17 bomber that crashed on February 23, 1942, in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and was lost for more than
six decades, has nose art recently created by Walt Disney Animation
Studios depicting Donald Duck rising
out of the jungle swamp. It's a wonderful example of how Disney
still supports our military today."
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Pearl Harbor Aviation
Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during
the attack on Pearl Harbor,
December 7, 1941. Walk the
Pearl Harbor battlefield where the
attack began, enter the bullet-scarred hangars, and see the control
tower and aircraft of the battle, including a Japanese Zero and the
B-17 Swamp Ghost. Hear the stories of World War II heroes and their
response to the attack that changed our nation and world. Pearl
Harbor Aviation Museum's mission is to steward American's first
aviation battlefield of World War II. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization that depends on membership, volunteers, and donations
for support. To join, volunteer or support, visit
www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum • 319 Lexington
Boulevard • Honolulu, HI 96818 •
(808) 441-1000
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spectacular-the-walt-disney-studios-and-world-war-ii-exhibition-opens-at-historic-pearl-harbor-aviation-museum-in-june-2024-302131521.html
SOURCE Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum