Last modified: 2020-07-31 by ian macdonald
Keywords: rank flag: air force (china) | propeller | wings | stars |
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Here is a summary of the Republic of China Air Force flags
regulations, as enacted on December 31, 1948 (keep in mind that this
was before the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan), and abolished on
December 17, 1985.
There are not that many surprises really:
The Air Force ensign was identical to the one used today, except the
badge was in yellow rather than silver.
The rank flags during that period were similar to those illustrated on
Flaggenbuch 1939 (white winded propellor
and stars on blue, proportions 3:5),
although the regulation did stipulate that "flags for general officers
have a single red border, flags for field officers have a single
yellow border, [and the flag for] Captain has no border", whatever
that meant.
Air Force Organizational flags (introduced on April 27, 1954) and Air Force School
flags were red, with the Air Force flag in the canton (half the length and
half the width of the red field), plus the organizational badge at the
lower fly, and a yellow strip at the hoist with the organizational
name in black. Proportions 3:5 (2:3 not including the yellow strip).
Still in use today (at least by the Air Force Academy and the Air Force Honor Guard)
with the current version of the Air Force ensign in the canton.
Note that the regulation made no mention about fringes, although for
the Air Force Academy and the Air Force Honor Guard at least, their flags had and
still have yellow fringes.
Miles Li, 2 June 2008
Here are the flags of the Republic of China Air Force as illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939. I managed to find the original legislation regarding these flags, and here is my rather literal translation of the main text:
Air Force Flags Act
Gazetted 29 April 1937
Section 1: For the Air Force of the Republic of China, its flags shall be
implemented according to this Act.
Section 2: At the front gates of organizations and units of the Air Force,
except on the National Day and on Days of Commemoration when the National Flag
and the Party Flag shall be flown, should on ordinary days erect the flags of
the Air Force, for the purpose of identification.
Section 3: Flags of the Air Force are divided into two categories: the Air Force
Flag and rank flags.
Section 4: The Air Force Flag has the proportions of three to five, of red
camlet or red silk field, inserted with the Party Emblem and wings of
approximately one-tenth size, its size and dimensions are as diagram 1.
Section 5: Rank flags of the Air Force shall be rectangular for General
Officers, triangular for Field Officers and Captains, have the proportions of
three to five, of blue camlet or blue silk field, inserted with one white winged
propeller, and also inserted with white stars according to rank. The designs are
as below:
(1) Flags of Air Force General Officers are inserted at the chief with one white
winged propeller and inserted at the base with thee white stars for the
General's Flag, two white stars for the Lieutenant General's Flag, one white
star for the Major General's Flag, their sizes and dimensions are as diagrams 2
to 4.
(2) Flags of Air Force Field Officers are inserted at the hoist with one white
winged propeller and inserted at the fly with thee white stars for the Colonel's
Flag, two white stars for the Lieutenant Colonel's Flag, one white star for the
Major's Flag, their sizes and dimensions are as diagrams 6 to 8.
(3) Flag of Air Force Company Officers is inserted at the centre with one white
winged propeller with no star at the fly for the Captain's Flag, its size and
dimensions are as the flags of Field Officers.
Section 6: Rank flags of the Air Force are restricted to the most senior
executive officer of a station, and to the commander of an Air Force combat
unit, who shall fly the rank flag as specified for their rank, with the Air
Force Flag above, the rank flag below. (As per diagram 9a) If no fixed flag pole
is available, when these can the flown, these shall be displayed on a stave. (As
per diagram 9b)
Section 7: Flags of organizations and units are to be presented by the
Aeronautics Committee.
Section 8: Distinguishing flags on aircraft during wartime are to be devised
elsewhere.
Section 9: This Act is to be implemented from the day of gazetting.
Miles Li, 12 March 2014
All Air Force Flags the flags were revised in 1958 de facto. The proportions
were changed from 3:5 to 2:3.
Akira Oyo, 04 April 2014
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 25 April 2014
Triangular pennant with the Air Force emblem in the hoist and three white
five-pointed stars in line in the fly. The emblem span (from center) is 1/3 of
the hoist, and adequate height as in the higher ranks flags (9/21). The distance
of the vertical axis from hoist is at odd distance of 71/336 of the total
length. The remaining 265/336 is measure on which stars are referenced, let's
call that length A. The stars are inscribed in circle of diameter A/8, the
central star is at the half of the length A, and center of the other two are A/6
on either direction.
Željko Heimer, 9 February 2003
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 25 April 2014
Triangular pennant with the Air Force emblem in the hoist and two white
five-pointed stars in line in the fly. Same construction as above, however the
stars here are somewhat larger, as they are inscribed in circle with diameter
2A/15. Distance between the two circle centers is A/5, twice that length from
the center of the AF emblem to the hoist most star.
Željko Heimer, 9 February 2003
3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 25 April 2014
Triangular pennant with the Air Force emblem in the hoist and a single white
five-pointed star in the fly. The construction is equal to the Colonel's
pennant, retaining only the central star.
Željko Heimer, 9 February 2003
Blue triangular pennant with white Air Force emblem. Again the emblem wing
span is 1/3 of the hoist with all other elements relatively adequate. The center
point of the emblem (center of the small disk) is at the top of the isosceles
triangle with sides equal 5/6 of the hoist and the base at hoist (which is to
say that with help of some geometry that the vertical axis of the emblem is 2/3
of the hoist from it).
Željko Heimer, 9 February 2003