BROAD VIEWS by Kin Platt During World War II, Kin Platt served from 1943-1946 with the Air Transport Command (ATC)of the United States Army Air Force. While stationed in India with the India-China Division (ICD) of ATC he used his drawing talent to create a seriesof 28 cartoons called Broad Views. These cartoons appeared in the weekly newspaper, Hump Express, published by ICD's Public Relations section. Hump Express reported war news and other stories of interest related to ICD's operations in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. Prior to his Army service in World War II, Kin Platt had been a writer for many famous entertainers and publications.In the mid-1930s he wrote radio comedy for George Burns, Jack Benny, the comedy team of Stoopnagle and Budd, and The National Biscuit Comedy Hour of 1936. Later in the 1930s, he wrote for Disney and Walter Lantz theatrical cartoons, and he broke into comic books with humor stories featuring the character "Happy" in Better Comics. Platt went on to draw such features as "Captain Future" in Better's Startling Comics; "The Mask," featuring a district attorney turned costumed crimefighter, in Exciting Comics; and writer Richard Hughes' Doc Savage-like "Doc Strange," in Thrilling Comics. Following the war, Platt continued his career as a comic book writer/artist. BROAD VIEWS featured beautiful women, often in various stages of undress, usually discussing some situation involving a GI. The cartoons appeared in most issues of the newspaper, gracing a bottom corner of the back page. |
 "For all the money he has, he doesn't dance badly." |
 " - And then he turned me over to the others - he said it was some kind of rotation plan . . . " |
 "He says he's been in action twice - there was a sale of lighters at his PX . . ." |
 "He says he loved last night's show and wants to see more of me . . . " |
 "Just checking up for the air inspector, Madame - Do you have any of our pilots?" |
 ". . . and on your left, the rarest and most interesting sight in India . . . " |
 "He wants to know if I've got anything on for tonight!" |
 "Smile, baby - I want my wife to think I'm having a good time . . ." |
 "Will you tell this soldier to stop following me . . . I have a date tonight." |
 "They got my pin-up pictures and now the chaplains are calling me Miss Mental Booby Trap of 1945." |
 "Didn't I tell you? I'm waiting for the doctor, too?" |
 "I just happened to think - when do you get a day off around here?" |
 "That's it, Miss Flotsam - the public has to think it gets you with the candy bar . . ." |
 "He says he's been caught with his points down!" |
 "I'm taking it easy this week - I'm jilting two bankers instead of five." |
 "They want you should do typing, too . . . ." |
 "After two years in Assam, coming back for 30 days would be perfect - but 45 - wow!" |
 "We've been down here all summer - and what do we have to show for it?" |
 "Now I want to see some real acting . . . remember your son is in uniform, your husband is out with another woman and you just lost your cake of soap!" |
 "The colonel just found the farthest advanced ATC base in China." |
 "I just happened to be in the neighborhood." |
 "Would you like anything else . . . merchandise, of course?" |
 "And he told me he'd been sent home for combat fatigue!" |
 "My replacement? Who th' hell wants a replacement?" |
 "I just had his ring appraised. Tomorrow I'm having my mind!" |
 "I want him to know he's REALLY out of the Army!" |
 "He fell for your pin-up pictures - but how d'ya know he'll like you in clothes?" |
 WAR OVER! |
Originally published in
Newspaper of the India-China Division
Air Transport Command
United States Army Air Force
China-Burma-India Theater of World War II
Portions Copyright 1945 Kin Platt
Copyright © 2015 Carl W. Weidenburner
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