Council Oak Senior Squadron Heraldry (OK125)
COUNCIL OAK SENIOR SQUADRON
OKLAHOMA WING, CIVIL AIR PATROL
U.S. AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
Purpose: To establish and maintain compliance with CAP heraldic standards for unit emblems as established in CAPR 110-3, Civil Air Patrol Heraldry Program.
Historical Significance: The Council Oak Senior Squadron is a proud unit who history can be traced directly back to the World War II Tulsa Squadron. Today, the squadron focuses on aviation education and search and rescue training and the emblem is a representation of its flight-focused mindset.
Heraldry: The components of this new design and their symbolism are described below.
The Aircraft: The aircraft represents the squadron’s connection to aviation and its focus on search and rescue preparedness. The aircraft is banked to the left reflective of the primary observation position for most aerial search patterns. Roll is the first of the three components of a coordinated turn and represents one of the three programs of CAP. It also reflects the crew’s commitment to accomplishing the tasks, always vigilant. Yellow in heraldry is gold, and has a heraldic name of “Or.” This represents the unit’s generosity of its resources and openness to all.
The Inclinometer: A component of the turn coordinator is the inclinometer. It is used to indicate the quality of the turn. The coordination of the turn as indicated by the inclinometer is the second of three components of a coordinated turn and symbolizes one of the three programs of CAP. The color pattern is stylized after the CAP Find Ribbon representing the squadron’s commitment to the search and rescue, focused on finding its objectives.
The Horizon: A stylized representation of the horizon, taken inspiration from the attitude indicator, is the single most important instrument used for determining the aircrafts attitude. This is the only instrument to indicate pitch and is the third component of a coordinated turn, representing one of the three programs of CAP. The completely blue roundel is referred to as a “Hurt” while a completely green roundel is referred to as a “Pomme.” A parting of the horizontal field is referred to in heraldry as a “party per fess.” This division of a field in the emblem symbolizes a respect of the horizon with the squadron maintaining an upward attitude into the future.
The Index Marks: Four white standard rate index marks, depicted as they appear on an aviation turn coordinator, represent the four core values of Civil Air Patrol. The color white, with a heraldic name of “Argent,” represents truth and peace.
Annulet: The color black with a heraldic name of “Sable” represents wisdom, constancy and prudence. The black annulet in the emblem is symbolic of the squadron’s link to aerospace education, dedicated to educating and mentoring the next generation in aviation. An annulet is a plain circular ring. It is an ancient charge, dating from c. 1255 in the arms of John de Plessis, Earl of Warwick, possibly derived from the links composing chain armor.
Done on this day, the twentieth day of August, two thousand twenty-one and of the Independence of the United States of America, two hundred and forty-five.
Design and Artwork: Capt. Brandon W. Lunsford, Sr
Reviewed by NHQ Historian Staff: Maj. Timothy Thornton, 20 Aug 2021
Coordinated Through Oklahoma Wing Commander: Col. Aaron E. Oliver, 20 Aug 2021
Approved by Southwest Region Commander: Col Martha C. Morris, 20 Aug 2021
