Re: Disney Busy Bee -- WWII Squadron Patches Forum and Bulletin Board

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Date Posted: 10:27:38 04/13/04 Tue
Author: David
Subject: Re: Disney Busy Bee
In reply to: Phyllis 's message, "Disney Busy Bee" on 15:58:31 04/08/04 Thu

Helly Phyllis.

I collect Disney WW II related items and I am currently writing a book on Disney-designed WW II insignia.

In regards to the Beechcraft Busy Bee:

The design was created in April 1942. The mascot was used as part of Beech Aircraft's employee incentive plan. The design features a bee with four hands holding various tools, positioned on a field of blueprint paper that is in the shape of a beech leaf.

A short story from a 1943 Disney employee newsletter that was titled, "Dispatch from Disney's," stated: "The Beechcraft Busy Bee...is a decorative note of good cheer...serving a similar purpose is the Beechcraft song composed by Studio musicians. Prepared for use with training films, it has been declared the organization's official theme music and is used as marching song by Guards and Guardettes."

There are several war-era related collectibles that feature the design including: a man's sterling silver and cloissone pin, a woman's sterling silver and cloissone pin, a certificate of merit that was given to employees and contractors, two different patch designs, a calendar, a magazine advertisement and there is an employee handbook that has several reproductions of the image scattered throughout its pages.

You can find most of the above on eBay. Most of the items can be found in the $50 - $100 range.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

David

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