United States Air Force Symbol

U.S. Air Force Symbol
Blue and silver version
Monochrome version

The United States Air Force Symbol is the public logo of the United States Air Force.[1] It was unveiled in January 2000 following a period of research and planning,[2] and became official on May 5, 2004, four years after the Air Force first applied for trademark protection.[3] Guidelines that outlined appropriate uses for the new symbol were also released.[4]

The Air Force began testing the symbol in 2001 by affixing it to base entry signs, water towers, and some aircraft and vehicles.[3] By 2002, the new symbol had gained "widespread" acceptance within the service, according to a survey of Air Force respondents.[3]

The Air Force symbol is based on the World War II "Hap Arnold Wings," named for General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold.[5][6] According to the Air Force, the symbol's "modern design" represents the service's "present and future leading edge capabilities defending our nation," and the symbol itself represents the heritage of the service.[6] The Air Force renewed the trademark for the symbol in 2013[7] and 2024.[8]

  1. ^ "Air Force Symbol". Air Force & Space Force Intellectual Property Management. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  2. ^ Riley, Jonathan (2014). "At the Fulcrum of Air Force Identity" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Air University Press: Air Force Research Institute. pp. 34–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Streeter, Melanie (June 16, 2004). "Air Force Symbol now official". Air Force & Space Force Intellectual Property Management. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  4. ^ "Air Force Symbol: Guidelines for Use". www.af.mil. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Trademark RN 2767190: Official Notice of Acceptance and Renewal under Sections 8 and 9 of the Trademark Act". tsdr.uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office. July 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "Official USPTO Notice of Acceptance and Renewal Sections 8 and 9: U.S. Trademark RN 2767190: Miscellaneous Design". tsdr.uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office. February 29, 2024.