Unit patches help define who we are Published July 7, 2008 By Rick Shea 27th Special Operations Wing Historian CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- We have all worn them. They have been collected and traded since the Air Force's inception. They were created to establish esprit de corps. Yet, few probably understand the significance of them. What I speak of are Air Force emblems or their more common moniker - patches. Emblems are the means by which Air Force establishments and units exhibit their heraldry. Heraldry as we know it today had its beginning in the early 12th century during the period between the First and Second Crusades. To ensure recognition while wearing armor and a helmet that partially hid the face, enterprising knights began to use identifying symbols and devices called cognizances, which were painted on their shields and embroidered on the pennons (cloth banners) attached to their lances. The U.S. military has used heraldic symbols since the birth of our nation, yet it wasn't until 1919 that the military began to consolidate and standardize its symbolism and heraldry programs. Since the Air Roots roots originate with the Army, the beginnings of our emblem start there as well. The 1920s are really the beginnings of unit emblems that we know today. A system of heraldic emblems evolved within the air arms of the allied and central powers during World War I, the first major conflict in which the newly-developed airplane became an instrument of war. A year after becoming the Chief of the Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces, Brigadier General Benjamin D. Foulois established the policy for insignia of aerial units, declaring that each squadron would have an official insignia painted on the middle of each side of the airplane fuselage. World War I also saw the use of cloth shoulder insignia, usually for combat divisions training for, and later serving in, action on the Western Front. The idea was to readily identify which organizations soldiers belonged to. The use of distinctive unit insignia continued in the Army Air Corps, and later Army Air Forces well into World War II. After a brief post-World War II demobilization uniform insignia restriction, unit insignia on the uniform returned in 1955. The 1960s and 1970s saw the rapid growth of Air Force emblems as operational units as well as support units sought to use them as a source of unit pride and morale. As the Air Force rapidly drew down during the post-Cold War era, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force sought to preserve Air Force units and heraldry with the most significant traditions and history in the service. A CSAF review of Air Force heraldry in 1992-1994 led to the standardized emblems and rules that we use today. Air Force organizations are classified, for heraldry purposes, as establishments (major commands, numbered air forces, wings, and groups) and units (squadrons and flights) with standards for each. Establishments use the shield, while units use a disc to display their respective coats of arms. Unit discs distinguish themselves through the use of scrolls. Units with mottos use the top scroll to display their mottos, while all units use the lower scroll to display their unit designations. Scrolls, for unit discs, are limited to 30 characters and spaces per scroll. Elements within the disc are limited to three, must reflect favorably on the Air Force and are limited to six colors, two of which must display official Air Force colors: ultramarine/reflex blue and Air Force yellow. On Oct. 1, 1984, the Air Force heraldic program officially transferred from the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center to the Air Force Historical Research Agency. At the same time, historians at all levels assumed responsibility for processing emblem requests. All Airmen should explore the significance of their unit's emblem as a matter of pride and knowledge gathering. Collectively, the AFHRA currently has more than 14,000 approved emblems on file and all serve as unique pieces of history that represent the men, women, organizations and equipment that are the Air Force. (Note: Mr. Shea is available at 784-2460 to assist in emblem processing needs or to answer questions or clarify emblem issues.)