After making what I admit is only a cursory scan of the AUXMAN and not finding any answers, what are the rules/policies/customs regarding flotilla patches? Are such patches allowed on any uniforms? Which ones? If such patches are allowed, who approves the design? Is there any guidance on this?
I don't recall ever seeing a Coastie either in person or in a photo with a unit patch, other than air station patches on flight suits/jackets, though I know that CG cutters often have them.
If you look to the left side of their banner you will see the Infamous Duck. That used to be available as a separate graphic and was posted to the Roost of the Duck as a direct link. However, they removed it from the site and broke the link so I had to remove it from The Roost. If they put it back or send it to me direct I would be happy to restore it to its rightful place in The Roost.
what are the rules/policies/customs regarding flotilla patches?
Other then the one above - none that I know of. During WWII, the TRs had a unique District patch. There was a specific color scheme for each district. 7th District Air used to have a blue Pelican Patch. That got dumped in favor of wearing the CG Air Station patch on the flight suit.
Are such patches allowed on any uniforms?
No. When it comes to the uni, if it isn't authorized it is not allowed. You could wear one on civilian wear and social functions.
Which ones? If such patches are allowed, who approves the design? Is there any guidance on this?
The closest analogy are flotilla and division burgees. Many people are not aware that flotillas and dividions can have these. They were common in the Aux up until the late 1960s. Then Nat made a big push for National and District identity and flotilla and division burgees went by the wayside.
Anyway, a flotilla or division burgee would have to be approved by the District DirAux. My guess would be if you wanted some official status for your patch it would also have to be approved by the DirAux. But since official or not it could not be worn on the uni - then why bother with that process. If the patch were strictly a local morale thing, then have the flotilla approve it, make some up and wear it on your civilian clothes.
The only one I know of is Flotilla 22 of 1SR - Sandy Hook, NJ
If you look to the left side of their banner you will see the Infamous Duck. That used to be available as a separate graphic and was posted to the Roost of the Duck as a direct link. However, they removed it from the site and broke the link so I had to remove it from The Roost. If they put it back or send it to me direct I would be happy to restore it to its rightful place in The Roost
If you go to their "Officers" page as well as several others you will find a small version (but at least not hiding behind the web page banner)...
A nitpicky point but two of the patches have the eagle looking the wrong way. By tradition the eagle looks to the viewer's left. This is the view of the eagle on the Great Seal of the United States and other official government seals.
Supposedly that is the 'peace side' since that is also the side the eagle is holding the olive branches on the Great Seal.
The eagle on the rating badges faced different directions depending on whether or not it was a "right" or "left" arm rate. Since 1948, it's been a moot point.
The current issue work jacket is a required seabag item for E-6 and below on the gold side - it looks like the windbreaker in general appeareance. The previous design is now obsolete.
Is the "bomber jacket" still authorized for the CGAUX?
Originally posted by Forewatch: Interesting observation! Seems a lot of organizations are making that mistake though...
Because it isn't really a mistake, but an early example of "urban legend". Although it's true that heraldist's refer to the left side of a shield as "sinister", it's sinister as opposed to "dexter"; both terms being the norman french terms for describing coats of arms. (Blazoning). Interestingly, it's left as seen by the mythical person behing the shield, not the observer's left. Anyway, the term sinister merely means "left", not evil or perverted, underhanded or whatever. Someone learned just enough heraldry to think they knew what they were talking about and presto! another new urban legend...
-- William Baldwin, Jr MBA HCM program Univ of Phoenix Ground below Zero, City of New Orleans, La on the web: www.coastguardauxiliaryslidell8cr.us
Anyway, the term sinister merely means "left", not evil or perverted, underhanded or whatever. Someone learned just enough heraldry to think they knew what they were talking about and presto! another new urban legend...
Hey, get a sense of humor! When I mentioned looking left as "sinister," . . .
Well, as the good Senator said on the old Fred Allen radio show ---------->
On the other hand, the US Office of Heraldry does recognize somewhat of a connection, as this article illustrates:
quote:
Nothing escapes a heraldry expert's eagle eye
By Erik EckholmPublished: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006
FORT BELVOIR, Virginia: "A wives' tale," scoffed one official. "An urban myth," said another.
They would know. The officials were from the Institute of Heraldry, the U.S. government's chief guardian of insignia and heraldic tradition, and they were dismissing an oft-repeated canard about the presidential seal.
According to legend, the eagle in the seal faced the arrow-holding talon in times of war and switched its stern gaze toward the olive branch in times of peace.
The eagle's glare did indeed get reversed - just once, by President Harry S Truman in 1945. But only, it turns out, to correct the grievous heraldic error that President Rutherford B. Hayes had made 65 years before, when he designed the first seal to adorn White House invitations.
"In point of fact, the viewer's left is the dexter side, [i]the honorable side on any shield,"[i] said Joe Spollen, the chief sculptor at the heraldry institute, which among its other duties nurtures rules and terminology from the Middle Ages. "The sinister side, on the viewer's right, is the less honorable."
And so Truman, after learning the truth from the director of the heraldry office at the time, switched the gaze from sinister to dexter, where it remains today.
