South Vietnamese national insignia in the correct proportions
Drawings by Leon Wohlert, based on information taken from Robert Mikesh' ”Flying Dragons”
Color key:
| Blue |
FS 15044 |
Sometimes as light as FS 15080 (and everything in between) due to fading |
| Red |
FS 11136 |
|
| White |
FS 17875 |
|
| Yellow (early use) |
FS 13432 |
|
| Yellow (later use) |
FS 13538 |
|
Type 1
Type 1 has bars that are centered in relation to the circle (unlike the USAF insignia). If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is 1 1/8 times R on it's widest point, and the total height of the yellow bar is 1/2 R. All red striping is 1/8 R.
Type 2
Type 2 had the same proportions as USAF insignia (above-center bars). This configuration was first seen on Farmgate and Jungle Jim T-28s and B-26s, and was used throughout the war on A-1 Skyraiders and and C-123 Providers. If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is R measuring from the tip of the white star, and the total height of the yellow bar is 1/2 R. All red striping is 1/8 R.
Type 3
Type 3 was first seen on a larger delivery of A-1 Skyraiders in 1960. It differed from type 2 in that it had wider bars. This type was also seen on C-119 Flying Boxcars in 1968. If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is R measuring from the outer edge of the red circle where the yellow bar is at it's widest, and the total height of the yellow bar is 1/2 R. All red striping is 1/8 R.
Type 4
Type 4 differs from type 3 in that the bars are slightly higher to make them centered in relation to the circle. It first appeared on A-1 Skyraiders and was later applied to A-37 Dragonflies. If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is R measuring from the outer edge of the red circle where the yellow bar is at it's narrowest, and the total height of the yellow bar is 3/4 R. All red striping is 1/8 R.
Type 5
Type 5 saw a doubling in width of the red striping. This type was used on C-47s and U-6s. If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is R measuring from the outer edge of the red circle where the yellow bar is at it's widest, and the total height of the yellow bar is R measuring from the top of the yellow bar to the lower edge of the lower red stripe of the bar (confusing? tell me about it!). All red striping is 1/4 R.
Type 6
Type 6 differs from type 5 in the width of the bars. This type was seen on U-17s. If the radius of the blue circle is R, the width of the yellow bar is 1 1/8 R measuring from the outer edge of the red circle where the yellow bar is at it's narrowest, and the total height of the yellow bar is R measuring from the top of the yellow bar to the lower edge of the lower red stripe of the bar. All red striping is 1/4 R.
Fin flags
The variations of fin flags on VNAF aircraft are only limited by one's imagination. It does not appear that there were any regulations about shape, size or position. Although many aircraft of the same type sported the same type of fin flags, it was common to see many different designs within one squadron.
