Delaware Wing

Description & Symbolism
The Delaware Wing emblem has been designed in accordance with CAPR 110-3 as it pertains to a flag-bearing organization. The emblem is displayed in the shield format with "Delaware Wing" in the scroll beneath the shield. The emblem design has three elements which convey the following symbolism:

• Slanted yellow diamond with CAP Charge - This element is retained from the heritage Delaware Wing emblem but presented in a dynamic and modernized way. In the heritage emblem the diamond was horizontal with the CAP roundel in the center. In the new emblem, the diamond is slanted to reflect action and a contemporary spirit. The diamond has deep significance for the state of Delaware. It borrows from the state flag which displays a colonial buff diamond on a blue field, recalling Delaware’s nickname, "The Diamond State." The position of the diamond divides the emblem design between light blue and dark blue fields which signify the Wing’s readiness to respond day or night. The Civil Air Patrol roundel reflects Delaware Wing’s World War II history, specifically the legacy of Coastal Patrol Base 2 which was located in Rehoboth, Delaware and which flew some of CAP’s earliest submarine patrols off the Atlantic coast.


• Cluster of three yellow stars on a light blue field - As symbols of excellence, the stars testify to the exuberance and volunteer spirit of Delaware Wing members in carrying out the mission of Civil Air Patrol serving Delaware communities, saving lives, and shaping futures. The three stars also denote Civil Air Patrol program areas of emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education. Additionally, the stars represent Delaware’s three counties - New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Delaware Wing has units in each of the counties.


• Yellow compass rose on dark blue field - The compass rose represents the steadfast vigilance of Delaware Wing members and their preparedness, ready to carry out assigned missions safely and successfully whenever called upon. The four cardinal points of the compass rose are also a reminder of the four core values of Civil Air Patrol - Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect.

Coloration
The Delaware Wing emblem is composed of five colors:

 • Light Blue, used as background in the lower (dexter) field of the shield, is borrowed from the light blue field of the flag of the State of Delaware and was the background color on Delaware Wing’s heritage patch. Light blue also represents the daytime sky.

 • Ultramarine Blue is the dark blue background on the upper (sinister) field of the shield and represents the night sky. It is also specified in CAPR 100-3 as the color the lettering in the scroll.

 • Air Force Yellow is the color of the diamond in the Delaware Wing heritage emblem and is retained for the incorporation of the diamond in the new emblem. Additionally, yellow is used as the color of the stars and compass rose, uniting the elements of the overall design in a visually harmonious way.

 • Red appears only in the propeller image in the CAP roundel and is used as per historical precedent.

 • White is likewise used in the triangle of the CAP roundel. It is also used the background of the scroll as specified in CAPR 100-3.

The emblem design is based off a concept by Cadet Colonel Evan Lightfoot. Colonel Robert Hotchkiss, Deleware Wing Commander, approved the final emblem design on October 1, 2024. The emblem was authorized by National Headquarters on February 9, 2025 - exactly 73 years to the day after the first emblem was authorized. A presentation on the new emblem from the 2025 Delaware Wing Conference can be viewed here.

Information provided by:
1st Lt Venkat Pillarisetty, CAP
Delaware Wing Assistant Historian
February 11, 2025