War Hawks Patch

Not much of my custom work has been used but I've had pretty good luck with patches.  The patch for the 455 EOSS (Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron) wasn't official and as things change, it was becoming more "time-stamped". Meaning it was reflecting more of how the 455 EOSS was than what it is and will continue to be.  I had no idea how to make a patch official or how it would take.  Many things - as was the case with this patch - somethings are rather expedient/simplified when deployed.  With awesome support from the historians at Bagram, we were able to get the patch approved.  It had to undergo a few changes.  There can only be three elements and six colors

• The patch as it was when I arrived.  It was very busy and the aircraft were becoming outdated.
• My first version of the new patch.  It retained armed hawk, the runway, mountains and added a star.

 Patch in early 2011 (l) and first version of new patch (r)

455 EOSS patch (full color)

Left is the final version in full color and below are two in traditional desert and OCP colors (below, right). I was lucky when the "armed hawk" was considered one element, but that still left three others - mountains, the runway and the star.  It was hard to let decide, but I retained the star and removed the mountains.  Why that star?  For me it represented endurance, long-term vision and guidance.  The mountains were awesome, but in reality, the 455 EOSS could be established elsewhere...somewhere without mountains.  Yes, it could be established somewhere without a runway, too, but a runway is more symbolic of the Air Force than mountains.  Finally, the hawk had to face the viewers left.  Only old patches (which have been grandfathered) or unofficial patches have mascots facing to the right.  We also had coins made, the design of which is shown below the patches. The description and symbolism of the 455 EOSS patch can be found at the Institute of Heraldry.

 

455 EOSS patch - desert colors (l) and OCP colors (r)

 455 coin front (l) and back (r)

Finally, here is the original sketch of the patch (circa August 2011) and the patch of the 455 Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (EAES). The commander was gracious enough to let me help design it. For the sketch, I liked the concept right away and stayed with it.  It's the only sketch of the patch.  The feathers behind the legs needed work - the hawk looked too chunky.  I like the mountains but as drawn, they were making the image a bit too cluttered.  And of course the flying triangles were omitted - mainly because of the number of elements is limited to three. I like flying triangles because they look very fast and can represent almost anything the viewer imagines.  An Eagle driver, for example, would certainly imagine an Eagle, where I might imagine a Fighting Falcon or a Talon.