Emblems of the United States Air Force

United States Air Force unit emblems have their origin in four different types of insignia used since the early twentieth century by United States Army units. Although the Army continues to distinguish among the different types of unit insignia it uses, the Air Force describes them all as “emblems.”

Air Force unit emblems may be of one of two differing shapes, a disc or a shield of a prescribed shape. Squadrons and flights (and equivalents) display their emblems on circular discs while groups or higher echelons display theirs on shields. Some squadron emblems which were approved under earlier rules were formerly allowed to retain their original shape, even if they did not conform to this rule, which has been in effect since the 1960s. However, in the 1990s, all unit emblems were altered to conform to this rule and as units become active the earlier shapes are conformed to the disc or shield or replaced.