History of the Patch

MN-104
Red Wing Composite Squadron
Version 2

Heraldry
"A sable eagle soars vigilant over the azure Mississippi River, banked by amber rocky hills and green lush wooded shores. Its bold red feathers furled in courage, passion, and valor. Flying proud yet humble, the eagle is not alone but part of something greater than itself. The emblem of the Civil Air Patrol ascends high in the sky, a guiding beacon for all to follow, or to find their way. The unit’s name and designation blazon gold with excellence, integrity, and honor, is scribed on a red scroll that attributes the sacrifices of all who choose to serve."

Field

  • Colored blue (ultra-marine), representative of the sky and the United States Air Force.
  • Same color of the field on the Minnesota Wing patch.
    Boarders
  • Colored yellow (gold), representative of the sun and the United States Air Force.
  • Same color of the borders on the Minnesota Wing patch.
    Eagle
  • Historical reference to the WWII Civil Air Patrol officer's service cap device (at right).
  • Colored black (azure), representative of the humility the unit shows in its esprit de corps.
  • Symbolic of human flight and the Aerospace Education mission.
  • Literal representation of the rare bird that calls the unit’s area its home.
    Wings
  • Colored red, representative of the unit member’s courage, passion, and valor.
  • Literal representation of the squadron's name, "Red Wing".
    Rampart walls
  • Colored green and tan (amber), representative of the unit’s area geography.
  • Symbolic for protection, representative of the Homeland Defense mission.
  • Literal representation of the Minnesota (left) and Wisconsin (right) state boarders.
    River
  • Colored light blue (azure), representative of the bodies of water throughout the unit's home area.
  • Representative of the unit’s Disaster Relief mission, and support of regular area floods.
  • Literal representation of the Mississippi River.
    Triangle and tri-prop emblem
  • Colored red and white over a blue field, representative of pride in the United States of America.
  • Organizational emblem (simple variant) of the Civil Air Patrol.
    Ground
  • Color brown, representative of land search and rescue and the Emergency Services mission.
    Scroll and text
  • Colored red, representative of the volunteerism, dedication and sacrifices of all who choose to serve.
  • Colored yellow (gold), representative of the unit's values including excellence, integrity, and honor.
  • Same colors of the unit’s original patch, so we do not forget where we have been.


    History
    "Officers in the squadron had decided that a new sign for outside of the Red Wing Civil Air Patrol Center building be made, and a new logo should be incorporated into the design. The logo might also be used in a squadron letterhead, on certificates and awards, and in other uses that the current squadron patch had been being used in years past. The squadron's historian, Major Andrew "Ace" Browning, was tasked with the development of the new logo."

    "Designs maintaining the unique and identifiable 'red wing' shape of the original patch were attempted with few results. Captain Luke Wegner, creator of the original patch, suggested using a version of "Hap Arnold" wings, which led to a study of past and present Civil Air Patrol and Air Force emblems. Captain Wegner and Major Browning came up with a crest that was simple, yet descriptive in heraldry. A new unit crest was presented to the staff officers for use on the new building sign, however discussion of the crest quickly turned to adopting it as a new uniform patch for the squadron. Minnesota Wing Commander, Colonel Stephen G Miller, approved the design as a wearable uniform pocket patch on April 17, 2005."

    Information provided by:
    Maj Andrew "Ace" Browning
    Red Wing Squadron Historian

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