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Army - Air Corps (U.S.)

Army Air Forces

Last modified: 2005-12-17 by rick wyatt
Keywords: us army | air corps | air force |
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Overview

Joe McMillan was kind enough to send me a copy of AR 260-10 (U.S. Army flags regulation) dated 25 October 1944. Using the information contained therein, I have produced a set of GIF's depicting the flags and colors of the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Army Air Forces of the WW II era.

Background: The Army Air Corps was the U.S. Army's aviation branch, to which belonged all flying units and all support units, such as aviation maintenance squadrons, which were aviation-oriented. Its branch badge was the winged propeller. The Army Air Forces consisted of the Army Air Corps plus units from other branches, e.g. Military Police, Coast Artillery (antiaircraft units), Transportation, Quartermaster, etc., that were necessary to support the tactical employment of air units. Thus, for example, the Eighth Air Force included a variety of non-Army Air Corps units. The Army Air Corps was a branch of service; the Army Air Forces was the combat organization.

AAC/AAF Flags: The branch colors of the Army Air Corps were ultramarine blue and golden orange, and these colors were featured on all AAC/AAF flags.

Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Headquarters Army Air Forces

[HQ Army Air Forces] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Distinguishing Flag, Headquarters U.S. Army Air Forces: HQ USAAF was the Washington-based headquarters for all Army Air Forces. Its flag depicted the shoulder sleeve insignia of the USAAF on a field of golden orange. The flags were made of wool bunting with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Eighth Air Force

[Eighth Air Force] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Distinguishing Flag, Eighth Air Force: The Eighth Air Force, based in the UK, carried the main burden of the U.S. strategic air offensive against Germany. Its flag consisted of horizontal stripes of ultramarine blue and golden orange, with the Eighth AF shoulder sleeve insignia centered. The flags were made of wool bunting with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

67th Fighter Wing

[67th Fighter Wing] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Distinguishing Flag, 67th Fighter Wing: On a field of golden orange, the unit name and number were applied in ultramarine blue. The flags were made of wool bunting with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

8th Pursuit Group

[8th Pursuit Group] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Organizational Standard, 8th Pursuit Group: The Group was the color-bearing unit of the Army Air Corps. AAC Groups were classed as mounted/mechanized units and so they had a silk standard with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch fringe. The field was ultramarine blue; fringe and piping were golden orange. Pursuit groups were retitled "fighter groups" later in the war, but existing standards were not replaced until they wore out. In most respects these standards were identical to contemporary U.S. Army organizational colors.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Commanding General Army Air Forces

[flag of the Commanding General Army Air Forces] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Color, Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces: Five general officers of the Army were authorized silk colors--the General of the Armies (Pershing), the Chief of Staff, the CG Army Ground Forces, the CG Army Service Forces and the CG Army Air Forces. For the latter, the field of the color was ultramarine blue. The shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) for Army Air Forces was centered on the color, but with its ultramarine blue disk invisible against the field of the flag. On either side of the insignia were two white stars to denote the CG's four-star rank. The CG, USAAAF was General H.H. "Hap" Arnold. Dimensions for this flag were 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

General Officer HQ USAAF Staff

[flag of a General Officer HQ USAAF Staff] image by Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000

Field and Boat Flag, General Officer HQ USAAF Staff: Generals on the staff of HQ USAAF were authorized a field and boat flag of wool bunting with the SSI for Army Air Forces centered and white stars according to rank. Like the color of the CG, USAAF, this flag's field was ultramarine blue with the USAAF SSI centered, its blue disk invisible against the field of the flag. One star was placed on either side of the SSI for a major general and one above the insignia for a brigadier general.
Tom Gregg, 29 April 2000