INTRO:

As a proud member of the UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, I’ve build many a USAF aircraft during my time with SimplePlanes, a pastime which I have always greatly enjoyed. When just a newbie here, I searched the “Parts” tag as I did not have the know-how to build my own USAF markings for my aircraft. I happened upon @TheAlban’s insignia pack, which was quite helpful for the first year or so, before beginning to build my own insignia…however, it does have its limitations as it’s an early resource before the advent of drag and weight modding. So, I’ve compiled here, for your use, nearly all the national insignia carried by USAF aircraft from 1916 to the present day…ZERO WEIGHT AND ZERO DRAG for your building needs, something which previous insignia packs have not featured. Additionally, are “light”, consisting of only EIGHT parts, while the others are segmented (many more parts), which aids in “wrapping” them around curved parts. Also, in case anyone was wondering, these are built to official USAF specifications:

HERE’S A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF EACH INSIGNIA:

1. U.S. Air Force, Segmented, Small: Typically carried on the forward fuselage of USAF aircraft from 1947 on, it is only sporadically present on USAF aircraft today, usually non-camo’d, “full color” jets. This one is segmented vertically so that a builder may wrap it around curved fuselage shapes.
2. USAF, Small: Typically carried on the upper surface of the right wing and lower surface of the left wing of USAF aircraft from 1947 on; see comment at 1., above.
3. USAAS WWI Roundel: Used by U.S. Army Air Service from 1918 – 19 in Europe during WWI, this one was actually exactly the same as the Russian Imperial Air Force roundel used prior Russia bowing out!
4. USAAC/USAAF “Red Dot” Insignia: Used by the U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces 1919-42.
5. USAAF North Africa Insignia: 1942-43. The U.S. was concerned that AAA gunners with itchy trigger fingers would see the “red dot” and confuse it with the “rising sun” of the Imperial Japanese forces, so they removed the “red dot” and substituted a yellow outline around the blue field.
6. USAAF Insignia: Used briefly in 1943, this one reincorporated the red element into the insignia.
7. USAAF Insignia: 1943-47, this one was used throughout WWII and prior to the USAAF becoming an independent service on 18 September, 1947.
8. USAF Insignia, Subdued: 1980s to present, subdued version of the “Stars and Bars” used on tactical aircraft.
9. USAF Insignia, Contrasting: 1980s to present, in some cases, contrasting colors may be used instead of grey, such as with this red/black insignia.
10. USAF Insignia, Subdued, Small: Small version of 8.
11. USAF Insignia, Contrasting, Small: Small version of 9.
12. USAF “Star and Bars”, Light: The gloriously full-color national insignia used since the establishment of the United States Air Force on 18 September, 1947. This one is only 8 parts and companion piece to the segmented insignia at 20.
13. “Red Star” Insignia: During the Mexican Punitive Expedition, the very first U.S. military aviation unit, the 1st Aero Squadron, carried this insignia…which, ironically, looks like the Soviet star insignia…on the tail of their JN-3 “Jenny” biplanes. Mostly painted in red, these stars were also painted in blue.
14. U.S. Air Force, Segmented, Large: Large version of 1., above.
15. USAF, Large: Large version of 2., above.
16. USAAC/USAAF “Red Dot” Insignia, Large: Large version of 4., above.
17. USAAF Insignia, Large: Large version of 7., above.
18. USAF “Star and Bars”, Large, Segmented: Large, segmented (to better wrap) version of 12., above.
19. USAF “Star and Bars”, Large, Light: Large, 8 part version of 12., above.
20. USAF “Star and Bars”, Segmented: Segmented version of 12., above.

PLACEMENT:

Far too often, I see the national insignia placed on the both wings, the wrong wing or upside down! Before the bars were introduced in 1943, it was correct to place the insignia on the top and bottom of both wings…After the bars became a part of the insignia, it was/is only carried on the top of the left wing and bottom of the right wing. When carried, the “USAF” is carried on the opposite wing, see here:

For the fuselage, the national insignia is placed on both sides of the fuselage, in a position where it can remain unobscured…that’s why you will see it on the forward or aft fuselage, depending on type. When carried, the “U.S. Air Force” designation was typically carried on both sides of the forward fuselage.

When you build, good luck and do your research, find pictures and build well. I hope these help you…fly safe!

ChiChiWerx