41st Iowa Composite Squadron (IA-041)

There have been at least three patches associated with the 41st Iowa Composite Squadron since its establishment in 1942.  The squadron was rechartered in 1959 with the number 13041.

Design

This patch is unknown as to when it was worn and who designed it. The previous 41st Iowa Composite Squadron emblem is a shield design composed of four elements. When the emblem was created, the Civil Air Patrol never officially adopted USAF heraldry rules and thus squadrons could use shield or disc designs. The border of the shield is USAF yellow. The scroll has a white background and “13041 AIR RESCUE & RECOVERY” written in red letters. The shield is divided into quarters going from chief to base and sinister to dexter. The dexter chief quarter contains a yellow background with a white “angel” wing. The sinister chief quarter contains a white background with a yellow radio antenna with four yellow electrical bolts originating from the top. The dexter base contains a red background and a white “Star of Life”. The sinister base has a yellow background with a white State of Iowa. There is a red five-pointed star representing the location of the Squadron.

Significance and Symbology

The significance of the yellow or red are unknown. The white wing represents the critical air component of the Civil Air Patrol. The antenna with electrical bolts represents the communications ability during a disaster. The “Star of Life” represents the rescue abilities of the Civil Air Patrol during a search and rescue operation. The outline of Iowa represents the Iowa Wing with a red star demonstrating the basic location of the squadron.

On 29 JUN 1992, USMC Capt Jeffery Smith (VMA-214, now VMFA-214) took-off from Davenport Municipal Airport following the Quad City Air Show in his AV-8B Harrier.  Plastic had lodged itself in the fuel line that starved the aircraft's engines shortly after take-off, causing the Harrier to crash in the field adjacent to the airport.  Smith was rushed to Mercy Hospital, but eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away a few days later.  Smith was a native of Iowa and had spent the days prior interacting with cadets of the 41st Iowa Composite Squadron.  Following the disaster, the squadron adopted a new patch that was designed by seniors and cadets.

Design

The 41st Iowa Composite Squadron emblem is a “modified” disc design composed of three elements. When the emblem was created, the Civil Air Patrol never officially adopted USAF heraldry rules and thus squadrons could use shield or disc designs. The disc design contains a white background with a black border. Starting at the dexter chief position and ending at the sinister chief position through the chief position are the words “DAVENPORT COMPOSITE SQUADRON” written in sky blue. The first element is located at the fess point. This element is an exact copy of the Black Sheep Squadron (VMA-214) emblem. Within this emblem is an F4U Corsair located at the chief position. There is a black band moving from the dexter base position to the sinister chief position. At the fess point (relative to the Black Sheep emblem) is a circle of 12 light blue five-pointed stars. At the dexter chief position is a black ram facing the sinister position. The second element starts at the dexter position and ends at the sinister position passing through the base position. This includes the words “IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JEFFREY SMITH” written in red. The third element contains three words written in sky blue. These are “USAF” located at the dexter position, “13041” at the chief middle chief position, and “CAP” at the sinister position.

Significance and Symbology

The patch prominently displays the infamous WWII Black Sheep Squadron emblem (VMA-214). The plane is an F4U Corsair, which was the second type of aircraft flown by the squadron (1943-1945). The original aircraft was the F4F Wildcat (1942). The name was adopted supposedly due to the fact that the Marine Corps did not originally support the squadron. Capt Jeffrey Smith, USMC, was an AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to VMA-214. He volunteered to fly his aircraft to the Quad Cities Airshow since he was from Coggon, Iowa and had studied Engineering at Iowa State University. During the airshow, Capt Smith interacted extensively with the 41st Iowa Composite Squadron and was especially kind to the squadron’s cadets. On his departure following the Airshow, the Harrier aircraft experienced engine failure. He crashed at Davenport, Iowa on 29 JUN 1992 and eventually died a few days later. Capt Smith was buried on 4 JUL 1992 in Coggon, Iowa.

In 2014, the 41st Iowa Composite Squadron modified their patch from the large disc to a standard disc with a top and bottom rocker.

Design

The top and bottom rockers, and the background of the disc is USAF Blue with Silver borders surrounding each section.  "CIVIL AIR PATROL" is written in white lettering across the top rocker.  "COMPOSITE SQUADRON" is contained in the bottom rocker.  The words "SEMPER VIGILANS" appear at the dexter and sinister position, respectively in white lettering.  "41ST IOWA" appears as the base position.  At the chief position is a USAF Yellow disc depicting the sun with the silhouette of an F4U Corsair from the front.  At the fess point is a sheep's head from the front.

Significance and Symbology

The patch modified the existing tribute patch adopted in 1992 and used the same elements from the VMA-214 Black Sheep Squadron patch.  The 41st Iowa Composite Squadron continues to honor Capt Smith after over 30 years of memory.