The United States Air Force Lapel Pin is based upon the Department of the Air Force Seal that was delivered to Harry S. Truman by the Department of the Army’s Office of the Quartermaster General and approved by him on 1 November 1947. It is not authorized for wear on Air Force uniforms and thus there no prescriptions regarding its wear in the Air Force uniform regulations.
At the top of the pin is an American Bald Eagle with outstretched wing, symbol of the United States and its airpower striking capabilities. The eagle is perched atop a shield that is divided by a nebuly line, a series of bulblike protrusions that in heraldry is used to resemble clouds. The eagle’s head is turned to face rightward, symbolic of looking to the future rather than dwelling on past successes or failures.
Above the nebuly is a large vertical thunderbolt, representing the lethal power the Air Force can unleash from above. Attached to the thunderbolt is a pair of wings similar to those found on the badges of pilots, aircrew, and other aviation- or aerospace-related positions, as well as several small lightning flashes surrounding the thunderbolt.
Items found on the Department of the Air Force Seal that are omitted from the Air Force Lapel Pin include 13 stars (for the 13 original colonies), the Roman numerals MCMXLVII for 1947, a white circle containing the words “Department of the Air Force” around the top and “United States of America” around the bottom, and a gold border around the circle.