91st All Iowa Squadron (IA-091)
The All Iowa Squadron (IA-091) was a composite squadron of multiple flights, including the East Iowa Cadet Squadron Central Flight, Central Iowa Composite Flight, Central Iowa Composite Squadron, and the core 91st All Iowa Squadron. The 91st's first patch was approved in February of 2001 and used through 2006. It was designed by Capt John Halbrook and Jim Curry.
Design
The Central 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 scroll contains a grey background and “CENTRAL IOWA COMPOSITE SQ” written in black letters. The border of the emblem is black. The first element, located at the honor point, is a straight facing Rising Phoenix with its wings curved and connected above its head. Within the wings is a blue “spade”. The second element is a sword moving diagonally across the emblem. Its handle is at the dexter base position with its tip at the sinister chief position. The third element is a torch with an orange flame also moving diagonally across the emblem. The flame is located at the dexter chief position and the base at the sinister base position. The fourth element is the background, which is divided using the sword. The dexter chief color is USAF blue and the sinister base color is red.
Significance and Symbology
The phoenix represents the rising from the ashes as the previous Ames-Boone unit was dechartered in 1984. The inside shape of the phoenix resembles an “Ace of Spades”. The flame represents knowledge, and the sword represents the strength. The blue and red colors represent the State of Iowa.
The 2006 patch was designed by Capt Trevor Henderson and used through the 91st's deactivation in September 2008.
Design
The 91st All Iowa Squadron emblem is a disc design with two 90-degree scrolls composed of three elements. The disc’s background is black with a yellow border and lettering. The chief scroll contains the squadron’s motto “PRO NOSTRUM VICINUS”. The base scroll contains the organization identification “91st ALL IOWA SQUADRON”. The first element, located at the fess point, is a straight facing Rising Phoenix with its wings curved and connected above its head. Within the wings is a black “spade”. The first element is superimposed over the second element, the State of Iowa outline. The state is also located at the fess point. Iowa is divided into thirds with the dexter being USAF blue, middle being white, and sinister being red. The third element, “NCR-IA-091” written in yellow, is located at middle base.
Significance and Symbology
The patch was designed using the phoenix from the previous squadron emblem. The phoenix represented the raising up from the ashes for the squadron as the previous Ames-Boone squadron was dechartered in 1984. The spade is to symbolize the “Ace of Spades”. The blue, white, and red within the State of Iowa represent the Iowa flag. NCR-IA-091 is the charter number of the unit. The motto “Pro Nostrum Vicinus” means “For Our Neighbor”.