United States Air Forces National Insignia Specifications

Insignia Specification Number 24102-K

Dates In Service: 19 August 1919 to 28 May 1942

Centered red circle centered within the star drawn from the pentagon shape is commonly refereed to as "the Meatball." Colors were originally described as "Old Glory Red" and "Old Glory Blue" or "Flag Red" and "Flag Blue" until the colors of Insignia Red and Insignia Blue were specified.

Colors: Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46, Insignia Red No. 45

 

Insignia Specification Number 24102-K (Amend #3)

Dates used: 28 May 1942 to 29 June 1943

The star remained the same as Spec. No. 241102-K, keeping the simple star in circle design, except the red dot was removed. This change was thought to avoid any confusion with the Japanese Roundel.

Colors: Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46

 

Insignia Specification Number 24102-K (Amend #3) Variation with yellow outline

Date Issued into Service: 8th Air Force Operation Memo number 9, 1 October 1942

As seen in the North African Theater Operation Torch. The Yellow band would often vary in thickness. The design is inspired by the outermost ring among RAF Type A.2 and C.1 Roundels.

Colors: Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46, Identification Yellow No. 48

 

Insignia Specification Number AN-1-9a

Dates In Service: 29 June 1943 to 14 August 1943

Experiments showed that at a distance, shapes were more important than colors, so bars were added to the roundel with an Insignia Red outline.

Colors: Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46, Insignia Red No. 45

 

Specification Number AN-1-9b

Dates in Service: 14 August 1943 to 14 January 1947

The Insignia Red outline was replaced with an Insignia Blue outline through the amendment of Army-Navy aeronautical specification AN-I-9 on 14 August 1943. This was followed by an amendment to Technical Order 07-1-1, issued on 24 September 1943, for units in the field. On some US Navy aircraft in the Pacific the blue outline was lighter than the insignia blue.

Colors: Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46

 

Insignia Specification Number AN-1-9b (Amend #2)

Dates in Service: 14 January 1947 to Present

Twin Insignia Red lengthwise bars, bisecting the formerly all-white bars, were added to the roundel in reflection of three flag colors, roughly nine months before the official formation of the United States Air Force on 26 September 1947.

Colors: Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46, Insignia Red No. 45

[This post-war variation is included for completeness of the topic.]