The Air Force Air Transport Command (AFATC) shoulder patch was changed from the design previously used by its parent unit the Air Force Ferrying Command. This modified patch would be of the same general design but would be silver, instead of gold, and the morse code would read "AFATC" instead of the "AFFC". The design of the shoulder patch suggests a stylized aircraft being ferried from east to west over a portion of the globe. The design is based on a Presidential Directive from Franklin D. Roosevelt (as Commander in Chief) ordering that ircraft be ferried for delivery to the British "with the greatest possible speed." It should be noted that the short and long red and blue lines extending from the globe to the tip of the wing form the Morse code letters and were part of the originally approved design. Although the QMG made no mention of the new "cloth" insignia just the metal insignia, it is believed that these patches were worn by local approval only.



The AFATC was established on June 20th, 1942, as a successor Command to the SAir Forces Ferrying Command with Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Ferrying Division of AFATC took charge of all ferrying operations and continured this missiion of ferrying aircraft to foreign and domestic destinations and often delivered 8,000 aircraft monthly. AFATC was also made responsible for transporting all War Department personnel, material, and mail (escept for areas served by Troop Carrier Units). In addition, AFATC was given the control, operation, and maintenance for all air route facilities and establishments in effect, the AFATC became "an agency in which the War Department had centered a;ll responsibbility for the development of air transport." To accomplish its mission, AFATC established a network of over 200 bases along 100,000 miles of overseas routes and 35,000 miles of domestic routes. Aircraft from civilian carriers were contracted (Air Carrier Contracat Personnel)) and added to the Command, ad passenger service became a major function of AFATC. With the addition of overseas wings to the Command, the prompt delivery of cargo to combat areas in any theater of operations became "one of the most significant developments of the war." While statistics do not indicat4 how many battles were won by the prompt delivery of priority cargo to the battlefront by the Air Transport Command, history reveals that no battle was ever lost because of a lack of support from the men of this fine unit.