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LOT 1493
Historic Pre-World War II U.S. Naval Reserve Torpedo Squadron Insignia Featuring Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse on Aircraft Fabric - Offered here is a section of fuselage fabric from a U.S. Navy Reserve Martin T4M-1 torpedo bomber painted with a depiction of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse riding a flying goose grasping a trident and torpedo and in the background is the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty. The circular section of fabric measures about 18 inches in diameter and is adhered to canvas for preservation and display. Per consignor, “St. Patrick’s Day/March 17, 1935/Floyd Bennett Airport/Removed From Martin T4M-1 Torpedo Bomber, U.S.N.” is hand marked on the reverse. According to the U.S. Naval Air Museum, this depiction of Mickey Mouse is the earliest known insignia of any U.S. aviation squadron to adopt a Disney character. By the end of World War II Disney artists had drawn some 1,200 insignias for the U.S. military with the bulk of those illustrations used by the Navy. While not officially sanctioned by Disney, this pre-World War II Mickey riding the goose insignia was at the forefront of this highly popularized trend. As one observer wrote, “As incongruous as Disney characters are to the horrors of war, these cartoon military patches embodied pop culture, innocence, American values, and everything the troops loved about home—a much more fitting emblem than a heraldic pompous symbol with no sentimental significance.” The T4M was the U.S. Navy’s primary carrier borne torpedo bomber for much of the 1930s until it was replaced by the Douglas TBD Devastator. The T4M was the last biplane torpedo bomber flown by the Navy. The fabric offered here is from a U.S. Navy Reserve T4M-1 stationed at Floyd Bennett Field, New York in the 1930s. Hollywood used the same Mickey flying a goose insignia in the most famous scene to the 1933 film “King Kong” as it appears on the fuselage of Curtiss F8C Helldivers attacking Kong on top of the Empire State Building. CONDITION: Very fine as mounted to canvas. Most of the paint remains to this wonderful depiction of Mickey Mouse. A must have for your aviation or Disneyana collection. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 5,000 - 10,000
LOT 1494 Fine Gold Commemorative Pin for Motor Torpedo Boat PT-304 - Measuring 2 1/2 inches long and about half an inch tall, the pin is cast and engraved to depict a torpedo boat underway, with “PT304” engraved in the bow. Laid down in March 1943 by Higgins Industries and placed in service that November, PT-304 aka USS Cherry, was assigned to the Mediterranean Theater as part of Squadron Twenty Two. Operating out of Corsica and St. Tropez, period photos show 304 has having racked up 6 kills in service. Recalled to the States for reconditioning once hostilities in Europe ended, Victory in Japan was declared before 304 could be sent to the Pacific. Placed out of service in November 1945, 304 would later be sold off, with it’s final fate unrecorded. Included with the lot is a copy of the book “PT Boats in Action- Warships #7”, which features pictures of PT-304. CONDITION: Excellent. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 4,000
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