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Background,
Description, and Symbolism of the U.S. Air Force Seal
Prior to enactment
of the National Security Act of 26 July 1947 which authorized the
United States Air Force, Mr. Arthur E. DuBois of the Army
Quartermaster General's office designed flags and seals for the
three services. In September 1947 the proposed Air Force seal was
exhibited in the office of the new Secretary of the Air Force, and
later a panel of about thirty top-ranking Air Force officers
reviewed it. The design had a green background and featured the
Wright Brothers' airplane as the central point. The panel
recommended that the background be blue and that a symbolic design
replace the airplane. Mr. DuBois sketched Jupiter's thunderbolt, and
it was adopted. The final drawing was approved by President Truman
on 1 November 1947.
The predominant
colors, gold and ultramarine blue, are the Air Force's colors as
carried down from the Air Corps. The thirteen stars signify the
original states, and the bald eagle is the symbol of the United
States and of air striking power. The shield is divided by a nebula
line formation, representing clouds, and the heraldic thunderbolt
portrays striking power in the medium of air.
The seal is
protected by law from use by any party for purposes not specifically
authorized by the Air Force. Unauthorized uses include on souvenir
or novelty items; on toys, clothes, or printed items; on commercial
or private printed matter; and on any article that may discredit the
seal or reflect unfavorably on the Department of the Air Force.
History.
Prior to enactment of the National Security Act of 26 July
1947, Mr. Arthur E. DuBois of the Military Planning Division, Office
the Quartermaster General, Department of the Army, prepared a study
of flags and seals for consideration by the three services.
These drawings
were first reviewed by Army officials in the office of the Director
of Personnel and Administration, then by Naval personnel in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, which also
arranged to have the drawings reviewed by the Secretary of Defense.
n September
1947, proposed drawings of the Air Force Seal were first exhibited
in the office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Later, a conference
of approximately 30 top-ranking Air Force general officers
considered the preferred one. The participants evaluated an Air
Force seal with a green-colored background; it featured prominently
at the honor point of the shield a Wright Brothers' airplane. This
Seal has been prepared by the Heraldic Section of the Office of the
Quartermaster General, Department of the Army, in coordination with
Mr. Robert E. Ewin, Chief of the Air Force Uniform and Insignia
Section. After review, conference participants decided that the
background of the Department of the Air Force Seal should be blue
rather than green, and that a symbolic design should be substituted
in place of the Wright Brothers' airplane. During these discussions,
Mr. Dubois picked up the design and on its reverse side made a
pencil sketch of Jupiter's thunderbolt as a suggested symbol. When
the Air Force representatives saw the pencil sketch and understood
its significance, they agreed to adopt that design as the basic
symbol for the Air Force Seal instead of the Wright Brothers'
airplane. The words "Department of the Air Force" that appear around
the upper rim of the Seal were drawn from the words of the National
Security Act.
The final
drawing of the Department of the Air Force Seal was completed in the
Office of the Quartermaster General, Department of the Army, and
approved by Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, on 1
November 1947.
SYMBOLISM OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
The symbolism
incorporated in the Great seal of the Department of the Air Force is
as follows:
1. The
predominant colors, ultramarine blue and gold, are the colors of
the Air Force through transition from the Air Corps.
2. The 13
stars represent the Thirteen Original Colonies of the United
States. The grouping of three stars at the top of the design
portrays the three Departments of the National Defense
Establishment, Army, Navy, and Air Force.
3. The crest
includes the American Bald Eagle, which is the symbol of the
United States and air striking power.
The cloud formation depicts the creation of a new firmament, and
the wreath, composed of six alternate folds of silver and blue,
incorporate the colors of the basic shield design.
4. The
shield, divided with the nebuly line formation, representing
clouds, is charged with the heraldic thunderbolt. The
thunderbolt portrays striking power through the medium of air.
5. The Roman
numerals beneath the shield indicate the year 1947, in which the
Department of the Air Force was established.
6. On a band
encircling the whole is the inscription "Department of the Air
Force" and "United States of America".
The entire
design used on the shield of the Air Force Seal is taken from an
heraldic representation of the mythological thunderbolt, also termed
Jupiter's thunderbolt,. Jupiter was the Roman mythological God of
the Heavens. At the honor point of the shield is a lightning bolt or
elongated projectile-like mass, conceived of as the missile cast to
earth in the lightning flash. The word thunderbolt--a single
discharge of lightning with the accompanying thunder--derived from
the idea that lightning was a bolt thrown to earth by a god.The pair
of wings and smaller lightning flashes surrounding the bolt complete
the design.
The eagle's head
is turned to the right and symbolizes facing the enemy--looking
toward the future and not dwelling on past deeds.
Above Information
Provided by the Air Force History Office |
