934 emblem reflects origin and mission

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. --  Ever wonder about the significance of the wing emblem and how the design came to be? Who designed it, when it was created and what do all the colors and symbols mean?

To answer that question, one must go back in time long before the 934 AW to understand why an emblem even exists.

The Air Force Historical Research Agency, http://www.afhra.af.mil/documents/heraldryguide/index.asp explains the history and development of unit emblems. Emblematic symbols have been recorded as far back as the earliest biblical periods. By the 12th century, knights had emblems painted on shields, embroidered on cloth banners attached to their lances for identification. By the 13th century, emblems assumed a systematic character to identify individuals, establishments and communities. Emblems throughout history have been used to identify friend and foe.

Today, Air Force organizations, as well as other military organizations use emblems to identify the unit's history, mission or function.

The design of 934 AW emblem was approved October 23, 1964. At that time the organization was a Troop Carrier Group and has been re-designated twice before becoming the 934th AW October 1, 1994. The field of the emblem has a red, white and blue background and signifies our national colors. The Viking head alludes to strength and bravery and also refers to the northern location of Minnesota, the state where the unit was activated in 1963. The aircraft in flight with its white background and the star-studded deep-blue depict the day and night airlift capabilities of the unit.
"There is no significance to the number of stars in the emblem," said Staff Sgt. Chris Rayburn, 934 AW historian.

The Air Force Historical Research Agency explains that the basis of the design of an Air Force emblem involves geometric and/or illustrative visual symbols. Air Force organizational emblems are not representations of actual aircraft or equipment. Instead they are geometric and/or illustrative visual concepts and design relationships that portray the characteristics and qualities with which an organization associates itself or defines its overall mission.

"AFI 84-105 states that emblems cannot contain recognizable weapon systems, equipment or symbols of a morbid nature," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Dunham, 934 AW historian. This stems from WWII era where many units had cartoon characters, skull and cross-bones etc. In the early 1990's when the standards for emblems were established, those units were grandfathered in and allowed to keep their emblems, he added.

The shield design is for MAJCOM's, wings and groups. The round disc design is for squadrons and flights, said Dunham.

With the recent activation of the Force Support Squadron, the FSS will assume the history, lineage, honors and emblem of the Mission Support Flight, while the history of the Services Squadron is sent to the USAF Heritage Program for archiving.

The historian's office requests that local inquiries be directed to that office.