A product of the First Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces. This is a 1940’s era, color, animated film. A cartoon in Technicolor. The title of the film is, “Camouflage”, it is one of a series of animated movies made by the Walt Disney Co. in support of the U.S. war effort. Between 1942 and 1945, during World War II, Walt Disney was involved in the production of many propaganda films for the US government, some featuring well-known Disney characters including Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. The widespread familiarity of Walt Disney’s productions benefited the US government in producing support for the war. In “Camouflage”, the purpose is a bit different — it is an attempt to educate members of the U.S. Army Air Forces about this vital skill. In it, Hoodie the Chameleon explains the importance of camouflage and decoys for equipment and ground installations against aerial attacks. A deer uses its spotted fur to blend into the foliage. A bird uses its spotted feathers to do the same 1:00. A butterfly uses its wings to blend in to leaves on a tree 1:27. A chameleon changes its colors to blend into its environment 1:40. He sleeps in a hammock. The chameleon can change his skin color to match his background 2:20. The chameleon has a top hat monocle and cane. His name is Hoodie. He speaks to the camera about the Air Force using better camouflage on their airfield 3:05. The chameleon talks to an airman painting on his plane 3:20. A hawk comes and sits beside the chameleon; he disappears with his camouflage 3:40. The airman is painting “kills” on the side of his plane 3:51. Japanese flags 4:08. Japanese bombers attack the airfield 4:20. US airplanes are damaged 4:40. The chameleon makes a speech about camouflage 5:00. The chameleon puts camouflage on a screen 5:35. The chameleon shows aerial views of troops moving across the field 6:20. Planes are left out in the open 6:33. Airmen create camouflage nets 6:56. The airmen create camouflage pieces to hide troops and aircraft 7:30. Shadows on the ground are just as important in giving away position as the object itself 8:05. The men build camouflage nets 8:20. The men literally cover their tracks 8:56. The men cover glass to reduce glare 9:15. Men create dummy planes as decoys 9:45. Dummy planes should cast a shadow for realistic look 10:00. The chameleon shows how you can give away your position in the field 10:45. Bushes and mud on a house can help camouflage it 11:20. Roads must also be covered and camouflaged 11:35. Dummy planes should be put far away from actual planes or barracks 11:50. Cover the natural shapes and shadows of the objects themselves 12:05. Paths should be covered after using them 12:35. Cartoon men are creating camouflage nets for the planes 13:58. The cartoon men bring bushes to the plane for camouflage 14:40. A building is camouflaged 14:50. Oil drums are dispersed and put under cover. The chameleon continues to coach the men from a hot air balloon 16:00. A Japanese squadron approaches 16:50. The Japanese bomb the American dummy planes 17:23. An outhouse is bombed 17:42. The squadron retreats and American planes are in pursuit 17:57. The Japanese planes are shot down 18:13. The chameleon uses a cloud to camouflage his hot air balloon 18:36. The Japanese are under attack 18:52. The airman paints more Japanese flags indicating kills on the side of his plane 19:20. The chameleon descends in a parachute and talks to the airmen 19:45. The chameleon paints a Japanese flag on his rear end. The end. T. F. I – 335I. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD.