History of the Air Force Flag

Aurthor Dubois' new Air Force seal was approved on November 1st, 1947. It wasn't until a few years later, from 1949 to 1950 that there was warrant for an Air Force organizational flag system. General Hoyt S. Vandenburg formally approved Miss Gatchell's design and the flag appeared publicly for the first time on March 31st, 1951.

The occasion was a parade in Washington honoring visiting French President Vincent Auriol. The following October, the first official description of the Air Force flag was published. The design of the flag has not been changed since its introduction in 1951 and we want to keep it that way.

The flag takes its significance from the 13 encircling stars, which represent the 13 Original colonies, and from the Crest and Shield, which make up the Coat of Arms:

The Crest is made up of the eagle, wreath, and cloud form. The American bald eagle symbolizes the United States and its airpower and is depicted in its natural colors. The Wreath under the eagle is made up of six alternate folds of metal (white, representing silver) and light blue. This repeats the metal and color used in the shield. The white clouds behind the eagle show the start of a new sky -- The Department of the Air Force.

The Shield, right below the eagle and wreath, is divided horizontally into two parts by a nebuly line representing clouds. The top part of the Shield bears a golden yellow thunderbolt with flames in natural color which shows striking power through the use of aerospace. (The thunderbolt consists of a golden yellow vertical twist with three natural color flames on each end crossing a pair of horizontal wings with eight lightning bolts radiating saltirewise.) The background of the top part of the Shield is a light blue (representing the sky). The lower part of the Shield is white (representing metal silver).

History of the Army Flag

The Army flag has a unique history. The Army created in 1775 with the appointment of General George Washington as Commander-in-Chief but it wasnt until another Commander-in-Chief, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, through Executive Order No. 10670, on June12, 1956 adopted the first official Army flag, 181 years later. The Army flag was designed by the Heraldic Branch.

The original War Office seal, constituting the central design of the Army Flag was authorized by the Continental Congress on May 8, l779. The seal is thus described:

"A cannon in front of a drum with two drumsticks; below the cannon three cannon balls. A mortar on a trunion and below the mortar two powder flasks. In the center a Roman breastplate over a jupon (leather jacket). Above the breastplate rises a plain sword with the pommel and guard supporting a Phrygin cap between an esponton (pike) and an organizational color on one side and a musket with a fixed bayonet and and the National color on the other side. Above is a rattlesnake holding in its mouth a scroll inscribed, 'This We'll Defend' ".

History of the Coast Guard Flag

The current flag was officially adopted on January 28, 1964 but its origins of the Coast Guard standard are unknown. An illustration in 1917 of the Coast Guard flag shows a white flag with a blue eagle and 13 stars in a semicircle. Later, the words, "United States Coast Guard-- Semper Paratus" were added, but a painting in 1840, Alexander Hamilton is shown flying a flag very similar to todays Coast Guard as a jack. After 1950, the semicircle of stars was changed to the circle containing 13 stars. The Coast Guard standard is used during parades and ceremonies and is adorned by the Coast Guard's 34 battle streamers. The Coast Guard is unique to the other services for it has two official flags, the Coast Guard standard and the Coast Guard ensign.

History of the Marine Corps Flag

On March 3rd, 1776 the early American Marines carried the Grand Union flag led by Captain Samuel Nicholas on New Providence Island. It is possible the Rattlesnake flag was also carried on this expedition. There is little information as to the history of this Rattlesnake flag and its origins. The standard flag for Marines has changed over the years.

During the 1830s and 1840s the flag consisted of a white field with gold fringe, and bore an elaborate design of an anchor and eagle in the center. Before the Mexican War, this flag also shown "To the Shores of Tripoli" across the top, which was adapter post-war to read: "From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas."

The Marine flag carried during the Mexican and Civil Wars was similar to the national flag; red and white stripes and a union. This union contained an eagle perched on a shield of the United States and a half-wreath beneath the shield, with 29 stars encircling the emblem.

In 1876, Marines carried the national colors (the Stars and Stripes) with "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered in yellow on the middle red stripe. But it wasnt until 1914, the time of the Vera Cruz landing, a standard was carried by Marines. This was a blue field with a laurel wreath encircling the Marine Corps emblem in the center. A scarlet ribbon above the emblem carried the words "U.S. Marine Corps," while another scarlet ribbon below the emblem carried the motto "Semper Fidelis."

From March 14th, 1922, the flag underwent many changes, removing the national colors, but kept the yellow fringe or wording on the flag. And in April, later that year, the flag was manufactured without the yellow fringe and without the words "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered on the red stripe. Following World War I, the Army attached silver bands carrying inscriptions enumerating specific decorations and battles.

On April 18th, 1925 the Marine Corps announced gold and scarlet as the official colors of the U.S. Marine Corps. However, it wasnt until January 18th, 1939 these colors were incorporated into a new design, or into what we know as the Marine Corps flag of today.

History of the Navy Flag

The creation of the first Navy seal began in 1957. A committee was formed which served as the main feature of the official United States Navy flag, adopted two years later. Although the seal was created through an evolutionary development, the flag did not follow this process.

The Nation's naval history wore a variety of flags, including the Grand Union, a pine tree or rattlesnake. However, there was never an official flag set forth and these flags came to be the elements which made up the seal.

Toward the end of the nineteenth century and for more than sixty years, the naval landing forces unofficially used the Infantry Battalion flag; a blue flag with a white diamond shaped device in the center and a blue foul anchor superimposed on the diamond. On April 24th, 1959, an official Navy flag was authorized by Presidential order.