Last modified: 2010-01-02 by dean thomas
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image by Dean Thomas,
21 December 2009
The Civil Air Patrol Flag is a Light Gray Flag with the Civil Air Patrol Crest (surrounded by a circle of thirteen blue-edged white stars) 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 appliquéd. Versions of this flag used at Civil Air Patrol Regional and Wing Headquarters differ in that the lettering in the scroll has the title of the wing (i.e. ARKANSAS WING) or region (SOUTH-WEST REGION) in place of CIVIL AIR PATROL. 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 general size of the nylon flags are 3' x 5', whilst the Wing, Region, and National parade flags are 4' x 6'.
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.
Units/Groups/Wings/Regions which
are awarded the Unit Citation Award – in addition to the Unit Citation Ribbon
worn on the uniform – are also 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^1star-cap.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 BGEN's 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