Reverse Depictions of the U.S. flags

Last modified: 2024-03-23 by rick wyatt
Keywords: painting | united states |
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image by Joe McMillan, 6 May 2003

• Space vehicles

See also:

• Vertical hanging
• United States

Space vehicles

On space vehicles the U.S. flag is "backwards" i.e. star region is in upper right instead of left.

This is done so that the flag looks as if it is blowing in the wind created by the forward movement of the ship of airplane. You can see this on cars and trucks as well. I have even seen Color Guards with the U.S. patch on the right sleeve with the canton reversed. However I believe the left shoulder sleeve is the accepted position.
John E. Niggley, 15 February 1996