[Many Souffan]

Hello Larry.

I work about this subject since almost 20 years.

M subject is the use of characters of cartoons in all european air forces between 1935 and 1945

And about The Mickey Emblem of J/88 there are many myths and legends.

With the crisis in 1929/30 Walt disney tried the Europa market. And at this time there were 2 open doors Germany & Italy. In the middle of thirties, the walt Disney company made 40% of his market in Europa.

The Characters of Disney were very succesful in Germany.

From the beginning to october 1936 there were no staffeln in J/88. The 6th november, it was created 4 staffeln, without a specific emblem for each staffel. It was common that every pilot of He 51 had a personal insignia. When he arrived in Spain Douglas Pitcairn choose, by proposal of his mechanic Mickey mouse as his personal insignia.

In march/ april 1937, Gunther Lützow became Staka of 2/J88 and with the arrival of the first 109 he choose the Top hat as emblem of his staffel.

In the same time Douglas Pitcairn became staka of 3./J88 and he took his personal insignia for the emblem of his unit.

The same thing for the 1./J88, Harro Harder became the new staka aznd took his personal insignia, the Swastika for emblem for his unit, it was too Much for the German HQ and the swastika became a little white cross in a black disc.

The very first personal of Douglas Pitcairn was a strange mixture between the Oswald Lucky rabbit and Mickey Mouse.

When "Dolfo Galland" replaced Douglas Pitcairn at the head of 3.J/88 he thought he will have the new 109 but the unit kept the He 51, but nothing. So he choose ( with a good sense of humor) a new Static Mickey pointing the sky which seem's to say "oh! look they flew 109!"

When Molders replaced galland he didn't want in first to keep Mickey for emblem. He accepted after to have a new Mickey running with a black glove and a revolver.

When Schmoller-haldy replaced Molders he kept the same Mickey but all in black.

When he came back in germany he did a pin with a black Mickey in a blue disc reprenting the blue sky of Spain.

When Douglas Pitcairn became staka of 3/JG51 he choose his Mickey in ablue disc. the same thing for galland when he bacame staka of 4 (S)/ LG 2, he choose a personal Mickey in a Blue disc, to remember the blue sky of Spain.

I must stop now I will finish later