March 27, 2025
While the term gremlin may have existed earlier, the myth truly “took off” with pilots and ground crew of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the early days of World War II. These troublemaking, impish creatures became the scapegoat for mechanical issues with aircraft.
You might recognize the name “Gremlin” from its most famous pop culture appearance in the 1984 film Gremlins (© 1984 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.). While those mischievous, destructive creatures share a love for causing trouble, they aren’t the same gremlins found in aviation lore, which is the subject of this article. The original gremlins, as told by pilots and mechanics, were invisible tricksters blamed for mysterious malfunctions in aircraft.
RIGHT: World War II Factory worker poster. Image: U.S.-National-Archives-and-Records-Administration,-Public-Domain
The myth became more widespread and firmly rooted in RAF culture during the Battle of Britain. Pilots were flying under high-stress conditions, and when something went wrong, blaming “gremlins” in the machinery provided a way to cope. It was a humorous outlet for airmen to relieve the tension of combat and the hardships they faced. Morale among RAF pilots would have suffered if pilots blamed the ground crew for machine failures or vice-versa, so it proved far better to make a scapegoat out of a fantastic creature. By the late 1940s, the term “gremlin” had spread beyond the RAF and aviation circles, becoming widely recognized in both military and civilian life.
Morale among RAF pilots would have suffered if pilots blamed the ground crew for machine failures or vice-versa, so it proved far better to make a scapegoat out of a fantastic creature.
Roald Dahl
One of the key figures in bringing the gremlin legend to mainstream attention was Roald Dahl, who, in 1942, wrote a story about gremlins for The Saturday Evening Post. Dahl, drew upon the gremlin myth to craft a darkly humorous tale about these mythical creatures. His story was later adapted into a book, The Gremlins.
Roald Dahl was himself a noted fighter pilot, joining the RAF in 1939, he would go on to fly in the Battle of Athens, alongside the high-scoring British Commonwealth ace of World War II, Pat Pattle.
That Roald Dahl would have been familiar with the Gremlin myth is not surprising, what is, is that he later in life claimed a head injury sustained in a crash earlier in his flying career would be the source of his creative writing ability. A fascinating observation considering Roald Dahl is best known for writing books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and Giant Peach among many others.
The gremlin myth became more widespread because it was a product of the machine age—the age of air travel—during a time when rapid technological development collided with established traditions, ancient myths and folklore. Many young men and women around that time had grown up hearing stories from their parents or grandparents of the “little folk” such as elves, who were believed to cause trouble for humans or act in mysterious ways, these myths were a part of their life. Gremlins became a superstitious explanation for mechanical failures, not only in aviation but in all kinds of machinery. During World War II, poster artists made good use of gremlins to raise awareness about avoiding accidents while working with the industrial machinery that supported the wartime effort.
Across the Pond
Although the gremlin concept originated in Britain, American airmen during World War II liked and also adopted the term. Fifinella, a female gremlin designed by Walt Disney, was created for a proposed film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Gremlins.
The WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) were a pioneering group of civilian female pilots who served during World War II as part of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Established in 1943, the WASP program was created to free up male pilots for combat by assigning women to non-combat aviation roles, such as ferrying aircraft, towing targets for live-fire training, and testing newly repaired planes. The WASPs were the first women in U.S. history to fly military aircraft.
During the war, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), requested permission to use the Fifinella image as their official mascot, which Disney granted.
Image via Constant Anzperger. www.americanairmuseum.com
Another notable appearance of the myth in pop culture, one that acknowledges it connection to aviation is “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” this classic episode of The Twilight Zone, originally aired in 1963. Written by Richard Matheson the episode also stars William Shatner, who would go on to be captain of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek. Shatner portrays a man recovering from a nervous breakdown who becomes convinced that a monstrous creature—a gremlin—is tampering with the wing of the airplane he’s flying on.
As the flight progresses, his increasing panic is dismissed by the crew and his fellow passengers. However, the audience is left wondering whether his terrifying vision is real or a product of his imagination. While the creature sabotaging the airplane aligns with the traditional aviation gremlin folklore, it is never referred to as such in the episode. However, due to its behaviour and setting, it can be confidently associated it with the gremlin myth. The fact that the author also served with the US military in Europe during World War II makes the connection even more likely. The episode masterfully blends psychological horror with suspense and has become one of The Twilight Zone’s most iconic stories.
And yet the Gremlin of old and its origins have been largely forgotten. For those who still recall, the myth has become more of a historical curiosity. Yet it is worth remembering because in its own way, the gremlin symbolizes the undaunted spirit of aviators and other service members who found ways to adapt to the hardships of wartime and navigate the unique challenges of understanding the evolving role of machinery in aviation and in the broader world around them.
The legend of gremlins has played a fascinating role in aviation history, serving as both a cautionary tale and a source of camaraderie among pilots and engineers. Because modern aviation relies on advanced technology and rigorous maintenance protocols to ensure safety, the playful myth of gremlins has become a largely forgotten part of aviation past. At the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, preserving aviation history is one of our key missions—but it’s not just about the aircraft we’ve rescued and preserved. It’s also about the stories. The myths and legends of aviation, like that of the gremlins, have captured public fascination since we first took to the skies. Whether viewed as folklore or metaphor, gremlins serve as a tribute to the resilience, ingenuity, and teamwork that have shaped aviation throughout history.
An original gremlin sticker, inspired by its historical aviation origins (shown here about to make mischief on a RAF plane) and free from later media interpretations, is available for purchase in the museum’s Landing Zone Boutique! This unique design pays tribute to the mischievous legendary creature told of by pilots and mechanics—perfect for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
READ MORE
