North Dakota Wing

Symbolism - The North Dakota Wing shield contains the following elements/charges. These elements may be incorporated into subordinate unit emblems:

1. ARROWHEAD of FLEUR-DE-LIS - Dexter, in the position of honor, the arrowhead, derived from the North Dakota Coat of Arms, symbolizes the "Sioux State" and pays homage to the Native American Dakota tribe of the Sioux Nation from which the state derives its name. The embedded fleur-de-lis alludes to La Vérendrye, a North American French explorer who was the first known non-native to visit the state’s territory.

2. BEND of STARS - The three stars, also derived from the North Dakota Coat of Arms, denote the trinity of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each star in the bend is given a heraldic value of thirteen, signifying the original thirteen colonies of the United States and having a cumulative value indicating that North Dakota was the thirty-ninth state admitted to the Union. The stars also allude to the territory’s history under three foreign flags (France, Spain, and England). Three stars are also borne upon the coat of arms of Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition and on the coat of arms of Lord Selkirk, head of the first permanent settlement in this state.

3. CIVIL AIR PATROL LOGO - Sinister, in the position of support, the Civil Air Patrol Logo depicts the three-bladed propeller upon a civil defense embedded triangle in a circle alluding to the history of CAP and its overall purpose to serve communities, states, and the nation. At the same time, each propeller blade represents the three CAP-derived mission areas encompassing 36 U.S.C. §403 CAP purpose: aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services.


Coloration - The shield is composed of five colors, and all (sans green) are matched to the Civil Air Patrol colors per CAPR 900-2. The colors meanings on the emblem are:

• GULES, ARGENT, and AZURE (RED, WHITE, and BLUE) - These colors together represent patriotism and support of the United States of America and reflect the colors of the flags of both the United States and North Dakota.


• AZURE and OR (BLUE and YELLOW) - The colors of the United States Air Force appear in the design representing our relationship with and support of the branch with which we are affiliated as an auxiliary. The blue represents "the sky," the primary theater of operations, while yellow represents "the sun" and the excellence required of personnel. AZURE and OR also reflect the territory’s history as part of the Louisiana purchase.


• OR and VERT (YELLOW and GREEN) - These colors represent the tremendous agricultural state of North Dakota and have particular reference to ripening grain and abundant grazing lands.

Ace's Notes: The emblem was approved by Colonel Justin B. Baier, Commander, North Dakota Wing; and Colonel John R. O'Neill, Commander, North Central Region. The artwork shown here was included in the Emblem Proposal Package reviewed and accepted by Major Bernard J. Wilson, Senior Heraldry Manager, Office of the National Historian on October 11, 2021. Changes were made to the scroll font and arrowhead shape before being authorized for official use by Major General Edward D. Phelka, CAP National Commander, on March 14, 2022.

ND-005 Grand Forks Composite Squadron

"Our squadron is heavily attended by pilots, and many come from Grand Forks Air Force Base and the University of North Dakota School of Aviation. This area of the country is also bountifully blessed with mosquitos, thus the Aviator Mosquito."

"Grand Forks is located along the Red River of the North, represented by the red line seen in the background. Our city is also located on very flat terrain, where there is very little elevation change over many miles. When the Red River flooded in 1997, some parts where as much as 20 miles wide! Therefore, the patch's skyline and horizon are very flat."

Information provided by:
1st Lt Lyn Boese, ND-005
December 2007

ND-031 James Valley Composite Squadron

Description:
On a shield per fess nebuly abased Azure and Gules, the nebuly fimbriated Argent, the Azure within a fimbriation border of the third; all surmounted by a bison Argent within an azure circle, all within an arrowhead Or bordered Argent; on a bend azure semy by stars Argent sans nombre; the arrowhead between a pair of wings Or tips upward. Attached below the shield, a White scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed "JAMES VALLEY SQUADRON" in letters Yellow, and the unit munber "031" in Red.

Symbolism:
Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force Auxiliary personneL The upper field represents the sky, a field of red, symbolic of danger. Both are protected by golden "Hap Arnold" wings which are symbolic of the aerial supremacy of the Air Force. The Air Force wings, in turn, are in support of a yellow arrowhead, symbol of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. Within the arrowhead, and supported by the Air Force wings, is a winged buffalo; the buffalo being the symbol of Jamestown, the wings specifying flight; silver to indicate purity, backed by a blue milky way, to symbolize the Air Force origin of the unit's aircraft.

Information provided:
November 6, 2013