Last modified: 2010-02-06 by dean thomas
Keywords: civil air patrol |
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image by Dean Thomas, 21 December 2009
The Civil Air Patrol Flag is a Gray Flag with the Civil Air Patrol Crest (surrounded by a circle of thirteen white stars arranged in the same manner as those on the USAF flag) emblazoned in the center. Versions of this flag used for parades have a dark blue fringe sewn on the fly end and top-and-bottom edges of the flag.
Generic versions of the Civil Air Patrol flag are screen-printed on nylon,
while THE Civil Air Patrol flag used at National Headquarters is a silk flag
with the central emblem fully appliqued. The size of this flag is set at 4 feet
four inches x 5 feet 6 inches.
image by Dean Thomas, 25 January 2010
There are fifty-two wings in the Civil Air Patrol (all 50 U.S. States, plus
the National Capital Wing and Puerto Rico Wing), and eight regions (regions are
made up of six or seven wings). The flags used by CAP Regions/Wings look
superficially like the CAP organizational flag except that a scroll above the
CAP emblem bears the lettering CIVIL AIR PATROL in red, and the scroll below the
shield bears the name of the region/wing. The size of this flag is
set at 3 feet x 4 feet, with a 2-and-a-half inch blue silk fringe.
Cords and Tassels are not authorized for this flag.
image by Dean Thomas, 21 December 2009
At the Group and Squadron level (unlike the Commonwealth Air Forces, Groups make up Wings in the USA), there is a specific flag for their use. This flag is colored intermediate blue with a white triangle in the center, upon which is emblazoned a red three-bladed propeller. Beneath the triangle is a white scroll with the words CIVIL AIR PATROL in red lettering. Above the triangle is another scroll which bears the name of the squadron/group (also in red). The parade version of this flag - like the CAP flag - has a dark blue fringe. This flag is double-sided so that the lettering reads correctly. Cords and Tassels are not authorized for this flag.
image by Dean Thomas, 30 January 2010
Squadrons and groups are also authorized the use of a guidon to represent the unit as a whole in circumstances where the CAP Squadron Flag would not be appropriate. These guidons are 1 foot 8 inches by 2 feet 3-and three quarter inches in size with a ten inch swallowtail cut out from the fly end. The guidon is colored blue(same shade as the squadron/group flag) with a three bladed red propellor within a white triangle depicted in the center. Beneath the prop-and-triangle is the unit charter number in white.
image by Dean Thomas, 20 January 2010
Units/Groups/Wings/Regions which are awarded the Unit Citation Award are granted the privilege to attach a Unit Citation Award Streamer to their unit/group/wing/region flag, in much the same manner as campaign streamers are awarded to U.S. Military flags. The streamer is crimson, with the words UNIT CITATION AWARD embroidered in white.
![[Civil Air Patrol National Commander's flag]](../images/u/us^1-starcap.gif)
image by
Dean Thomas, 23 January 2004
At a CAP activity at the USAF Academy, the CAP Commander, BGEN Bobick attended the graduation parade. A cadet behind him was holding a special flag. This flag is used by all current and past national commanders of CAP (All are Brigadier-Generals as that is the only way a CAP officer can acquire that rank - if he or she is the national commander of CAP). CAP is the auxiliary of the USAF and as such, all uniform items and emblems have to be approved by the USAF. The flag picture is based on my recollection of what the flag looks like. It has a gold fringe and the CAP seal is embroidered in the top left corner. The white star is more toward the lower fly of the flag (definitely NOT centered). The shade of blue is the same as that for other USAF Flag Officers flag
![[Civil Air Patrol Vice Commander's flag]](../images/u/us^2-starcap.gif)
image by
Dean Thomas, 13 January 1999
In 2002, the United States Air Force and the Civil Air Patrol agreed that
from 2003, the National Commander of CAP would hold the rank of Major-General,
with the Vice-Commander holding the rank of Brigadier-General. Because of this,
a new flag for the National Commander was inaugurated. It consists of two stars
on a blue field, denoting the rank insignia worn by a Major-General. The CAP
seal is retained and is located in the top left corner of the flag. The
Vice-Commander uses the single-starred flag to denote his rank.
Dean
Thomas, 23 January 2004
While most times CAP Honor Guards will only use two flags (US Flag and Unit Flag), some units will carry more than one flag, or a flag other than the Unit Flag. The list below shows the precedence level of the flags. The United States flag will always be on the observer's left.
More information pertaining to these flags and their authorized useage can be found in Civil Air Patrol Regulations (CAPR 900-2).