The 32nd Fighter Squadron' insignia was designed by the Walt Disney Studios during World War II to symbolize the squadron's mission of searching for enemy submarines operating in groups called "wolfpacks" in the Caribbean. In 1959, the 32nd became the only U.S. Air Force unit in the world authorized to bear the royal crest of another country, when the crown and wreath were added to the famed "wolfhound" design.
The crown symbolizes royalty, while the wreath and 12 oranges represent an orange tree, a traditional symbol of the Dutch Royal Family --the House of Orange-- who are direct descendants of William of Orange, the first Prince of the Netherlands This unique honor was granted in recognition of the unit's contribution to the defense of the Netherlands and graphically illustrated the 32nd's close ties with the Royal Netherlands Air Force. |
