Strategic Air Command Emblem
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Main Article:Strategic Air Command
THE COMMAND EMBLEM
On a sky-blue shield over two clouds, one in the upper left and one in the lower right extending to the edges of the shield, white shaded blue-gray, a cubit arm in armor issuing from the lower left and extending toward the upper part of the shield, the hand grasping an olive branch green, and three lightning flashes red.
[edit] Shield
Azure, two clouds proper, one issuing from sinister chief and one issuing from dexter base, a cubit arm in armor in bend, issuing from the sinister, the hand grasping a branch of olive proper, and three lightning flashes gules.
[edit] Significance
The blue sky is representative of the Air Force operations. The arm and armor are a symbol of strength, power and loyalty and represents the science and art of employing far-reaching advantages in securing the objectives of war. The olive branch, a symbol of peace, and the lighting flashes, symbolic of speed and power are qualities underlying the mission of the Strategic Air Command.
[edit] The SAC Crest and the SAC Stripe
The blue background of the SAC Crest meant that SAC's reach was through the sky and that it was global in scope. The clouds meant that SAC was all-weather capable; bad weather was not a limiting factor. The mailed fist depicted force, symbolized by lightning bolts of destruction; the olive branch, of course, represents peace.
In addition to the SAC Crest, SAC aircraft bore the SAC Stripe. The stripe consisted of a very dark blue background which was speckled with stars. The stripe appeared on the sides of SAC aircraft in the area of the cockpit running from the top to the bottom of the fuselage at an angle from roughly 11:00 O'clock to 5:00 O'clock. The SAC Crest was a bit wider than the stripe and was placed on over of the stripe. The stripe indicated that SAC was always ready, night or day, to fulfill its mission.
