Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace
The World War I Flying Ace is one of the many fantasy identities that Snoopy adopted during the fifty-year run of the Peanuts comic strip. In the early years of the strip, Snoopy would pretend to be other animals, such as a vulture, a boa constrictor or a piranha. As his character developed, Snoopy's imaginary life became more complicated. Many strips would focus on Snoopy pretending to be a lawyer or the student "Joe Cool." However, the World War I Flying Ace would be one of Snoopy's most popular and enduring alternate identities.
History[]
Snoopy's first appearance as the World War I Flying Ace was in the Peanuts comic strip from October 10, 1965, which saw him climb on top of his doghouse (claiming it was a Sopwith Camel biplane) to do battle with the Red Baron. The fantasy ended when Linus came up behind him and imitated the noise of a machine gun. Snoopy then remarks, "Maybe I can get a job with a good commercial airline."
The first appearance of the World War I Flying Ace from October 10, 1965.
The Flying Ace on the cover of The Complete Peanuts Vol. 10: (1969-1970)
Often, when Snoopy is seen as the World War I Flying Ace, it is hard for other characters to get his attention, because all Snoopy cares about at that point is his imaginary battles. For instance, in the strip from June 20, 1989, when Charlie Brown comes home from camp, and really misses Snoopy, the first thing Snoopy (as the World War I Flying Ace) says when he sees the boy is, "Don't they realize how dangerous it is to let unauthorized kids on the runway?".
Often, after an imaginary battle, Snoopy will call out "Curse you, Red Baron!"
While spending time in the town Snoopy will often admit that the things that he is doing are not historically accurate to real flying aces.
The World War I Flying Ace in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The first television appearance of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace was in the animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, initially broadcast on October 27, 1966. In the special, Schroeder appears to be happy to go along with Snoopy's game by playing popular songs from the World War I era on his toy piano.
Snoopy hones his Flying Ace persona when he undergoes testing for narcolepsy, 1983
Other characters would participate in Snoopy's imaginary World War I exploits during the strip's run, including Woodstock and his bird friends and Snoopy's siblings, Belle and Spike. Woodstock and the birds would most often be seen as mechanics for the Ace with Belle appearing as a nurse for the troops. Spike appeared in later years as a member of the infantry, lasting all the way to the Flying Ace's last appearance. The most eager human participant appears to be Marcie, who is happy to accept the role of "French lass" who falls for the dashing pilot. At one point, she is nursing Snoopy from influenza and reads in the paper that President Wilson signed the Armistice and the war was over. (1981) Spike is a member of the infantry (a "poor blighter") in the fantasy since 1981. He is incorporated into the story arcs more often in the 1990s, drinking root beer and being luckier in love than Snoopy. (Eudora once cuddles with Spike, leaving Snoopy behind, desperately asking for another of her relatives. Snoopy then goes to find Belle in the Red Cross, uniting all three siblings in an arc in 1981). Spike at one point references the war poem Flanders Fields (as Farmer's Fields) in an arc in 1997.[1]
Snoopy's brother Marbles seems to be the only unappreciative member of the fantasy, becoming confused during the story arc in 1982.
U.S. military usage[]
Various cartoon characters from outlets such as Warner Bros. and Disney have been used as mascots of US military units. Aware of the legal battle between The Royal Guardsmen and United Features Syndicate, over the band's unauthorized use of the name "Snoopy" in their song "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron", a fighter squadron in the Vietnam War that wanted to use Snoopy the World War I Flying Ace as their mascot wrote to Charles M. Schulz to ask permission first. Schulz, a veteran himself, approved Snoopy in Red Baron-hunting mode as the squadron's mascot.