Naval aviation insignia may have a background of heraldry although a knowledge of this subject most certainly is not necessary in order to appreciate and understand the significance of the various symbols which have been adopted and reproduced on the fuselages of the planes of the various squadrons of the U.S. Navy.
During the World War it became imperative that definite distinguishing marks be used on airplanes to prevent serious mistakes being made during periods of low visibility. This need brought forth the use of the Iron Cross insignia on the German planes and the tricolored circle on the aircraft of the allied forces. As the activities and strength in numbers of aircraft increased the squadrons replaced the individual flyer. As pride in squadrons replaced the individual flyer. As pride in squadron organization grew and as victories were chalked up, the desire to be distinguished from other groups or squadrons asserted itself and the result was squadron insignia.
This custom was retained by the military aviation services in the United States after the World War, but it was not until aviation “went to sea with the fleet” that squadron insignia was adopted almost universally in the U.S. Navy. In most cases the squadrons have attempted to depict, by their insignia, the various functions or missions.
That these squadron insignia have caught the fancy of newspaper writers, and that they are doing it more so each day, is clearly shown by the many references to the “High Hats,” “The Striking Eagles,” “The Crazy Cats,” etc., and certainly there is more of an appeal to the imagination in these designations than there would be in the use of the official designation of VF-3, VF-6, or VF-1, which to all but those of the naval service, appear in the same light as hieroglyphics.
Aviation has grown up so rapidly and so recently that proper records of interesting happenings and data which form its background have not yet been made. This is unfortunate since many stories have already been lost and the “word-of-mouth” records are from day to day becoming more and more inaccurate. It is hoped that the publication of this collection of sketches, together with a short resume of their significance, may prove of interest to naval personnel as well as serve as a permanent record.
Fighting Plane Squadron One (VF-1) is attached to the U.S.S. Saratoga. The “High Hat” insignia was adopted in June, 1927. Prior to that time the insignia was a diving eagle, which lost favor because of its resemblance to a parrot which was being used to advertise a well-known brand of chocolate. While casting about for an appropriate insignia an idea was furnished when one of the pilots of the squadron appeared in a very battered top hat. The “High Hat” became the insignia of Fighting One forthwith. As some one in the squadron at that time aptly remarked “There was no special reason—it just seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Fighting Plane Squadron Two (VF-2) is the only squadron in the U.S. Navy which is fundamentally composed of enlisted pilots. To properly describe this organization, the insignia pictures the chevron of a chief petty officer which also incorporates the American eagle. The chevron is mounted on a shield with the word Adorimini at the base. Adorimini, which, translated freely means “Up and at ‘em,” was used by Caesar’s legions as a battle cry.
Fighting Plane Squadron Three (VF-3) carries as its insignia a yellow, five-pointed star on a blue circle, across which an American eagle is descending. The outstretched wings and claws show the eagle ready to strike. The star on the field is an aircraft designation and the eagle represents a fighting plane ready to strike with its machine guns or bombs. VF-3 is generally referred to as “Fighting Three” or “The Striking Eagles.”
Fighting Plane Squadron Six (VF-6) adopted its insignia when its official designation was “Combat Squadron Four.” (It became VF-6 in 1927.) At that time the primary mission of the squadron was considered to be the dive bombing attack. This mission was clearly pictured by Pat Sullivan’s “Felix” with a bomb in his hands. Although the mission of the squadron is now simply that of the fighting plane, “Felix” with his bomb had so endeared himself to the personnel that he has been retained.
Fighting Plane Squadron Five (VF-5) is distinguished by a shield of royal blue crossed by a bolt of red lightning and with two red circular shapes in the quarterings. The crest is the head of a wild boar which depicts the characteristics of the pilots when operating against the enemy. The bolt of red lightning suggested the squadron’s nickname of “red Slippers,” a sobriquet that has followed it since the adoption of the insignia.
In addition to the routine schedule of flying activities, the utility unit of the U.S.S. Lexington performs many missions, such as photography and spotting for long-range gunnery, experimental work, and target towing in connection with antiaircraft practices. For relief or emergency work at least one plane and a pilot are in readiness to respond at a moment s notice. Hence the unit’s insignia, “A Minute Man.” The figure used in this instance is a copy of the statue which stands in the town of Lexington, Mass.
“The Crowing Cock” is the insignia of the U.S.S. Saratoga as well as of that ship’s utility unit. On board the original Saratoga during the Battle of Lake Champlain, a chicken pen was damaged by gunfire which allowed a cock to escape. 1 he bird flew into the rigging and crowed lustily. It was just at this moment that the turning point of the battle occurred, and the cock has, since that time, been held as a symbol of good luck to the Saratoga.
Utility Plane Squadron One (VJ-1), whose primary duty is the guarding of other aircraft, carries on the side of its planes the silhouette of a “lion couchant” imposed over the regulation aircraft insignia. Below the lion appear the words En Garde.
The missions of Utility Squadron Two (VJ-2) are well described by the safety pin. This implement of general utility is certainly an agent with odd and sundry duties, being utilized as a replacement of regular agents when such agents fail or are missing. The number “two” is the squadron designating number, and the word “utility” the squadron’s mission.
The Observation Squadron Four (VO-4) insignia consists of a battleship with guns blazing away at a target. The battleship is shown superimposed on a “V” and the whole framed by an “O.” The planes of VO Squadron Four are attached to battleships, operating via the catapult, and their primary mission is observation of the gunfire of the surface craft.
Patrol Squadron One (VP-1) has adopted the elephant for its representative since that animal has always been noted for his endurance and patience. The elephant of VP-1 stands on a cloud with one eye cocked downward at a target, a bomb securely held by his trunk, awaiting the proper time to make an unerring drop.
Patrol Squadron Three (VP-3) also favors the elephant. In the case of this particular squadron the elephant was originally pink, adopted simply because of the pleasing color. The pink, however, soon bleached to white and thus was quite apropos of the old planes in use. The long glass and bomb held by this notoriously wise and long-lived beast typifies the duties of the patrol squadron.
Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) operating in the Hawaii area has adopted the complete circular rainbow, so frequently seen during flights, as its insignia. A four-leaf clover is placed in the center of the rainbow as a symbol of good luck.
Patrol Squadron Severn (VP-7) was the first to be designated for “patrol” duty. An old-fashioned police patrolman with a “night stick” was chosen for the insignia, since many of the squadron’s most important patrol operations are carried out wholly or in part at night.
Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) boasts of King Neptune as the central figure of their squadron insignia. Master and king of all he surveys, he sits upon a rock in the sea with a trident in one hand while his other hand shades his eyes as he searches the horizon for a possible enemy. This insignia indicates the primary and highly important mission of the squadron of patrolling the high sea and overcoming many difficulties encountered in carrying out this mission.
In the ever shining sun of the firmament are written the designating letters of Patrol Squadron Nine (VP-9). The wild goose is significant of patrol duties for the following reasons: The goose is probably one of the most migratory of birds, patrolling from the arctic to the temperate climates biannually. He travels with unerring judgment to his destination displaying great endurance and speed; typifying the navigation necessary in patrol duties. He is noted for his flying formations, particularly the “V” analogous to certain tactical duties of patrol planes in bombing, towing, scouting, etc.
The compass rose insignia of Patrol Squadron Ten (VP-10) has superimposed on it the Dipper and Polaris, thus illustrating the navigation necessary on a long over-sea patrol. Because radio, with which the planes are equipped, is very necessary in sending and receiving information, a group of radio waves are also placed on the insignia. A bomb placed in the center of the design describes the secondary mission of the squadron.
After the cruise to Honolulu in 1929, information to the effect that the landplanes of Scouting Squadron One (VS-1) would be changed to amphibians was the direct inspiration for the squadron’s insignia: A very bust looking duck equipped with pontoons and wheels, wearing helmet and goggles. The usual explanation for the duck’s pontoons is that the squadron flies so far to sea that even a duck would hesitate to duplicate the trip without boats.
The insignia of Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2) was adopted in view of the fact that the duties of a scouting squadron operating with the fleet require the characteristics natural to the pointer dog.
The well-known, excellent scouting proclivities of the American Indian served as the inspiration for the insignia of Scouting Squadron Three (VS-3). The Indian head, used in this particular design, was copied from the U.S. five dollar gold coin.
The “Cuban” bat, reminiscent of the months spent by Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) on cruises in the Guantanamo-Santiago areas, was adopted as descriptive of the expression which in turn so aptly described the characteristics of the planes in service at that time, that is, “blind as bats.”
The original squadron insignia of Torpedo Squadron One (VT-1) consisted of wings, each wing supporting a torpedo on its upper edge, with a pair of bombs attached to the bottom center. The development of new torpedo planes and the assignment of the squadron to an aircraft carrier brought about the adoption of a more modern official insignia, namely, a “bombman” astride a torpedo.
Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2) designed its insignia at the time the squadron received its primary mission, bombing, which is represented by a fire-breathing flying dragon astride a bomb on its mission of destruction.