5th Squadron          Activated 1955

1962

1976

2011

1962          "Pegasus"

Description: The emblem is a blue, silver-edged triangle with a slightly curved base. Pegasus, the white flying horse of Greek mythology, emerges from a white cloud in the center. A green and black shield with a green-handled sword on top is in front of the cloud. Across the bottom of the triangle is a light green streamer, edged in black with the words “5th SQDN” in white letters.

Significance: Pegasus is symbolic of the early Greek ideas of flight. The sword and shield, borrowed from the Fifth Bombardment Wing (the original squadron sponsor) suggests that man is now capable of conducting battle in the air.

History: This is the squadron’s original patch and was designed by Michael Ditmore. 

Nickname: "Pegasus"

  1965 – 1976

 

The flying horse symbolizes flight with power and the shield and sword indicate fighting me of the clouds. The 5th, sponsored by Headquarters Aerospace Medical Division, Brooks AFB, Texas, was the Honor Squadron in 1971.  – C3C Stan Rader, Class of 1976, Falconews, 29 March 1974

The Fifth Squadron patch is triangular in shape with a blue field edged in silver. Pegasus, the mythological flying horse, is emerging from a silver cloud. Also in the design of the patch, a sword and shield lies in the foreground. Pegasus symbolizes flight with power, and the shield and sword represent fighting men of the clouds. – 1975 Polaris

"As best I can recall, I was approached by a firstie in the fall of 1961, who had seen some of my work in the Dodo. In any case, I wasn’t given much to work with. Our sponsor at the time was HQ Aerospace Medical Division, which didn’t bring many combat images to mind. But I was very taken with the Pegasus statue, which in those days stood in the courtyard on the north side of Arnold Hall. It was a gift from the Italian government in 1959. The sword and shield were the uniquely offensive and defensive aspects of the Air Force. I think I did about 3 or 4 sketches, all very close to the final design. As a doolie, it was a bit heady working closely with a few 5th squadron members of the class of 1962, but they saw this as something that their class would be the first to wear. In any case, blue and silver were the obvious color choices and the green was added as a bright contrasting color. Here is the first athletic jacket ever to sport the 5th squadron patch (mine). By the way, 1965’s motto was “'65 Best Alive!""  – Michael Ditmore, Class of 1965 (March 2020)

1976          "Wolf Pack"

Description: The patch is a circular emblem bordered in blue. A blue semi-circular field is placed at an angle on the upper half of the patch. A camouflaged F-4 Phantom jet is at the bottom of the blue field. A snarling gray wolf’s head rests on the cockpit of the aircraft and a red numeral “5” is located on the fuselage to the right of the wolf. The word “Wolfpack” is written on the white field below the aircraft.

Significance: The patch signifies the squadron’s association with the famous “Wolfpack” Fighter Wing, led in Southeast Asia by Brigadier General Robin Olds. The fierceness, professionalism, and dedication to duty demonstrated by the Wing is emulated by the Fifth Squadron cadets. The F-4 and the Wolf are clearly indicative of the cunning and tenacity used by General Olds’ men and the high degree of spirit they demonstrated.

History: This patch is the second patch in the squadron’s history. It was designed by Cadet First Class James Bisher, Class of 1978, and adopted in 1975.

Nickname: "Wolf Pack"

  1977 – 2011

 

2011             "Wolf Pack"       

Description: The third patch, first worn by the Class of 2008, is a blue circle with the squadron nickname “Wolf Pack” in yellow on a banner above the circle. A similar banner across the bottom of the circle says “5th SQAFCW.” A snarling black and silver wolf head with a yellow eye and red tongue sits in the middle with the shadowed red numeral “V” in the background behind the head.  – 2006 Polaris

History: The timeline for implementation of this patch is decidedly confused. The first Polaris to depict this patch was the 2012 edition, implying it was likely adopted sometime in the 2011-2012 academic year. However a history of squadron patches in the 2006 Polaris correctly describes (but does not depict) this patch and states that it was first worn by the class of 2008 (implying it could have been adopted as early as 2004), even though the 2008 Polaris depicts the 1976 patch (above), as do all editions from 2009 through 2011. 

Nickname: "Wolf Pack"

  2012 –