LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 47th Flying Training Wing proudly unveiled their new Friday morale patch, commemorating the wing’s historical lineage and promoting camaraderie throughout the base.
“The 47th FTW is excited to announce an organically designed morale patch inspired by the heritage of Team XL,” said Capt. Grady Hughes, 47th FTW Commander’s Action Group director. “Airmen throughout the wing were encouraged to participate in a design competition leveraging the histories of the 47th Bombardment Wing, 3645th Pilot Training Wing and 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.”
Numerous submissions piled in focusing on the 47th FTW mission and base history. The official patch done by Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan, 47th FTW Public Affairs specialist, combines the best elements of all entries to unify all airmen’s efforts and creativity.
The morale patch features the primary red, blue and yellow colors, matching the respective patches of Air Education and Training Command, 47th FTW and 47th Wing Staff Agencies. Each primary color connects Team XL’s heritage with their current mission to develop mission-ready, resilient airmen, leaders and families.
The black silhouettes of the A-26 Invader, T-33 Shooting Star and U-2 Dragon Lady aircrafts symbolize the shadows once cast over Laughlin by the aircrafts flown by our predecessors. A-26s were operated by the 47th BW over Europe and North Africa during World War II. The T-33 prepared fighter pilots in the 3645th PTW during the 1950s, while the U-2 was flown by the 4080th SRW at the height of the Cold War.
The T-6A Texan II and T-38C Talon aircrafts featured next to the name and near the airframes represent Team XL’s continued legacy as professional Airmen. Both the T-6 and T-38 aircrafts ready today’s pilots for the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and allied nation air forces.
The bomb and wings honor the Airmen of the 47th BW who wore the same logo on their shoulders. They trained in night operations, conducted firepower demonstrations and participated in tactical exercises preparing WWII pilots for combat.
Lastly, the “XL” logo colored to match the state flag of Texas, as known as the lone star flag, embodies the connection between the local community and Team XL. Pilot training operations have occurred in the skies of Del Rio since 1942. The 47th FTW continues to carry the standard of excellence set by previous airmen throughout its rich history.
The selected patch will be authorized for all wing personnel to wear on Fridays with both Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms and Flight Duty Uniforms.