United States Air Force Symbol


The United States Air Force Symbol is the public logo of the United States Air Force. Unveiled in January 2000 following a period of research and planning, it became official on May 5, 2004, four years after the Air Force first applied for trademark protection. The Air Force also released guidelines on appropriate uses for the new symbol.
The Air Force began testing the symbol in 2001 by affixing it to base entry signs, water towers, and some aircraft and vehicles. By 2002, the new symbol had gained "widespread" acceptance within the service, according to a survey of Air Force respondents.
The Air Force symbol is based on the World War II "Hap Arnold Wings," named for General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. According to the Air Force, the symbol's "modern design" represents the service's "present and future leading edge capabilities defending our nation," and the symbol itself represents the heritage of the service. The Air Force renewed the trademark for the symbol in 2013 and 2024.

History

Following a 1999 recruiting shortfall, the Air Force desired to adopt a new symbol to represent the service for "all internal and external audiences." Research, surveys and focus groups had already been commissioned in 1998. The Air Force hired New York advertising agency Siegel & Gale for "the task of researching and designing the new image, logo, and tagline." Company representatives traveled throughout the Air Force and to major U.S. cities to conduct research and become intimately familiar with the Air Force and its culture, environment, and heritage.
In 2001, the Air Force began testing the emblem, affixing it "on a limited number of base entry signs and water towers and a small number of aircraft and vehicles." The symbol was unveiled before its official adoption so the Air Force could test public opinion prior to making a final decision.
Air Force headquarters released a memo, dated February 10, 2003, addressing the symbol's use on "Base Entry Signs and Water Towers," remarking that the use of the symbol "at base entry gates and on water towers has become widely accepted throughout the Air Force," and stating, "As our installations adopt the new sign criteria, we move closer to our goal of achieving a consistent professional 'first impression.'"
Commenting on the symbol's official adoption in 2004, Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper said, "I'm proud our symbol is now an official part of our heritage," also remarking: "It represents our storied past and links our 21st Century Air Force to our core values and capabilities."

Timeline of the symbol's design and adoption

  • 1998: Research, surveys and focus groups commissioned
  • 1999: Symbol designed
  • May 2000: Trademark registration filed
  • 2001: Symbol tested throughout Air Force
  • 2002: Survey of internal Air Force audience reveals 90% believed the new symbol was already the official Air Force symbol
  • September 23, 2003: Trademark registration date. Serial #76040432 and Registration No. 2,767,190
  • May 5, 2004: Designated as the "Official Symbol of the Air Force"

Hap Arnold Wings

The original Army Air Forces shoulder sleeve insignia, or "Hap Arnold Wings," was approved on February 23, 1942, and was designed by James T. Rawls, an artist on General Henry H. Arnold's staff. Rawls was inspired to bend the wings upward after seeing a photo of Winston Churchill giving his famous "V for Victory" sign. The insignia was authorized for wear by Army Air Forces Regulation 35-11, dated March 21, 1942.
The patch was initially worn by all personnel of the U.S. Army Air Forces, but in March 1943 it was "limited to those AAF personnel not in overseas commands," and in June 1943 it was limited to "Headquarters AAF and a few other independent commands." The ultramarine colored disk represents the sky and air, while the "white star with red disk" had been the identifying symbol of U.S. Army and Navy airplanes since 1921. The Hap Arnold Wings remain the "legacy brand of the Air Force," and the insignia is also known as the "Army Air Corps symbol" and "Hap Arnold emblem." The design is used today on Air Force uniform buttons, and on the Air Force Chief of Staff seal. The Army Air Forces design helped inspire the new Air Force symbol. According to the Air Force, the "Air Force symbol is based on the familiar WW II 'Hap' Arnold wings."

Meaning of design

According to the Air Force, the symbol "honors the heritage of our past and represents the promise of our future," and "retains the core elements of our Air Corps heritage -- the 'Arnold' wings and star with circle." The symbol is based on the classic "Hap" Arnold wings from the Second World War, while its modern style signifies the "present and future" capabilities of the service.
Unless approved by the Air Force Chief of Staff, the only words allowed beneath the Air Force Symbol are "U.S. Air Force," "Academy," and "ROTC." Certain approved emblems may be placed "between the wings," with the emblem being "half the height of the Symbol." The symbol is "available for use in blue, black, grey, chrome-silver, chrome-blue and white versions." On the official U.S. Air Force website, the meaning of the symbol was described as follows: