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Air Force Flags 1948-1958 (Taiwan)

Last modified: 2020-07-31 by ian macdonald
Keywords: rank flag: air force (china) | propeller | wings | stars |
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Air Force Flag Regulations, 1948-1985

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


Air Force General

[Air force General] 3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014


Air Force Lieutenant General

[Air Force Lt. General] 3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014


Air Force Major General

[Air Force Major General] 3:5
image by Akira Oyo and Miles Li, 24 April 2014


Air Force Colonel

[Air Force Colonel]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


Air Force Lieutenant Colonel

[Air Force Lt. Colonel] 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


Air Force Major

[Air Force Lt. Major]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


Air Force Captain

[Air Force Lt. General]3:5
image by Željko Heimer

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