On this day in 1944, the Donald Duck short ‘Commando Duck,’ was released. It was made during World War II and was the only time that a regular character engaged in warfare. Donald parachutes into Japan with orders to destroy an airfield. He loses most of his gear except a rubber raft. It collects so much water that it explodes, causing a flood to wipe out the airfield. Sadly, the short’s depiction of the Japanese was racially insensitive and those scenes were cut from later showings. [80 years ago in 2024]