GreenLeader | 30 Jan 2015 3:33 a.m. PST |
Someone will probably answer this very quickly: why do some US military uniforms display the US flag 'back to front'? I have noticed this on the shoulders of some uniforms – the blue part with the stars is on the right, rather than the left. |
Big Martin Back | 30 Jan 2015 3:49 a.m. PST |
I suspect it's to do with the old heraldic principle of reversing things when seen from the "other" side which also applies to flags. |
Chris Wimbrow | 30 Jan 2015 3:51 a.m. PST |
It symbolizes the flag actually flying on a pole in the breeze of moving to the front, not retreating. |
Jemima Fawr | 30 Jan 2015 3:54 a.m. PST |
Yes, the US these days likes to have the 'hoist forward and fly rearward' on uniform-flags. They weren't so fussy in WW2, so you'll see photos of US Paras etc with flags showing 'hoist on the left', regardless of arm. It's not only the US – when I was in Scouts we'd have the Welsh flag as a badge on our shoulders and the dragon would always face forward (i.e. face the 'hoist'). The Union Flag by contrast is conventionally shown with the hoist on the left and doesn't normally change on different arms (the difference is very difficult to see in any case). |
Jemima Fawr | 30 Jan 2015 3:57 a.m. PST |
Here's a famous WW2 example, with the flag going the 'wrong' way when compared to modern US dress regs:
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Jamesonsafari | 30 Jan 2015 4:44 a.m. PST |
Well you'd need two differenr patches to do it right.I imagine in ww2 they were given a couple and told sew them on. |
Jozis Tin Man | 30 Jan 2015 6:07 a.m. PST |
Chris is correct, with the introduction of ACU's at least and every day wear of a shoulder flag, it is "backwards" from the way Boy Scouts taught me to display the flag. Of course in scouts we did not wear subdued or IR reflective flags either… |
Jemima Fawr | 30 Jan 2015 6:13 a.m. PST |
James, yes exactly – one badge fits all. |
PzGeneral | 30 Jan 2015 7:27 a.m. PST |
As it was explained to me, it is worn so that the flag appears as though the wearer is advancing, not retreating. |
CharlesRollinsWare | 30 Jan 2015 8:53 a.m. PST |
Gents; The WWII flag displayed on the Paratrooper uniforms were not "patches". They were miniature flags, sewed on. Thus there was no need to reverse. Regardless, the flag was only sewed on one arm. Mark |
Marc33594 | 30 Jan 2015 9:01 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 30 Jan 2015 9:56 a.m. PST |
That answers the question Marc. Thanks ! And that was what I though too PzGen … But I'm old and forget things … |
Jemima Fawr | 30 Jan 2015 10:13 a.m. PST |
Nyet … |
Jemima Fawr | 30 Jan 2015 12:21 p.m. PST |
Sodding bug changed my last reply! |
GreenLeader | 30 Jan 2015 10:25 p.m. PST |
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number4 | 31 Jan 2015 12:34 a.m. PST |
The starred canton is the important part and should always be displayed in the traditional place of honor (on the right – which is the left of the viewer), so the flag isn't actually going backwards or forwards, it is directly facing you as you look at it. |