Adorable icon, and best friend of Charlie Brown, everyone knows who Snoopy the Dog is. Since his debut in an October 4th 1950 issue of the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy has become one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in America. He is commonly featured hanging out with his bird buddy, Woodstock, or typing up stories on his doghouse as a world famous author. However, despite his extensive history in the public eye, this prominent pooch possesses a secret identity: a wartime fighter pilot.
His first appearance as the Flying Ace was in an October 10th, 1965 comic strip. Snoopy is seen engaging in a heated imaginary battle on top of his dog house – which he imagines as a British Sopwith Camel plane. His sole mission is to take down the “Red Baron” – a pilot based on the real WWI German fighter Manfred von Richthofen.
Following his introduction, the Flying Ace would go on to be featured in all forms of Peanuts media, from the beloved 1966 animation It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and other films, and even an Atari game dedicated to the persona, the Flying Ace isn’t limited to just the comic strips.
When I first encountered the fighting identity of Snoopy, I was shocked. Why would a friendly neighborhood dog have to participate in the horrors of combat? However, the more I looked into the Flying Ace’s history, the more I began to appreciate it as a classic example of the reciprocal influences between art and war.
Before his position as creator of the Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz was drafted in 1943 and served in the United States military as a staff sergeant during WWII. Eventually, he returned to his home state of Minneapolis at the end of WWII in 1945.
Having just moved out of a global conflict, America yearned for escapism. The Peanuts comics were perfect for this, providing a simple world and the daily adventures of a group of young children, boosting its popularity in the 1960s.
However, America was still experiencing the turmoil of conflict. Anti-war protests against the US military’s involvement in the Vietnam War were on the rise back home. The war crimes, constant death of troops, and drafting policies had left Americans discontented.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the Peanuts, the comics reflected society’s turbulence. During the escalation of the Vietnam war, Snoopy’s Flying Ace identity was introduced and Snoopy’s fantasies began to become more gruesome. A notable example of this is evident in the February 13th, 1966 comic which saw Snoopy walking through the trenches and a nearly abandoned town, parallelling the experiences of US soldiers at the time. Schulz took it even further on June 1st, 1969. Snoopy would boldly make a direct protest against the war, saying “Curse this stupid war,” the sentiment of both US troops and civilians at the time. As Schulz had served in the army he clearly showed his sympathy for the struggles of combatants at the time.
With the notoriety of Snoopy and his relatable hardships, the Flying Ace became a celebrity among US servicemen. Banners, buildings, patches, and engraving on lighters were owned by troops in South Vietnam, all using Snoopy as a mascot for fighters. Snoopy even found himself being directly painted on to weaponry such as a tank, a gun truck, and even a Cessna ’01 plane. Today, military members still honor Snoopy. Currently, the Air Force’s 26th cadet squadron, also known as the “Barons,” features Snoopy in his pilot hat on their logo.
Art is a reflection of the world, and one aspect of that is war. Snoopy reminds us of this symbiotic relationship, a lovable cartoon dog born out of a veteran’s experiences, popularized during times of political unrest, and who went to represent the troops. So the next time you look at any work of art, think about the historical context behind its creation.
