Friendly skies? bummer insignia!

[butlersrangers]

A perfectly good U.S. military unit-logo would be permanently ruined, just a few years later.

[Ned Butts]

WOW never knew of military use

[scottz63]

Well, that version of it on the plane, set like a square not a diamond, is an ancient symbol that means the sun moving through the sky. Makes sense on an airplane.

[Dick Hosmer]

Also, no armament? And - what's that hanging beneath the fuselage?

[waterman]

Also, no armament? And - what's that hanging beneath the fuselage?

An extra gas tank.

If you dig deep enough, that's probably some sort of unit or squadron insignia.

Those P-12s stayed in service a long time, IIRC, through the 1930s, maybe even into 1940-41. They were probably fun to fly and the older officers could get in enough hours to keep their flight pay. Parts on hand, lots of commonality in parts. That was important during the Depression-era USAAC, when maintenance $$ were tight.

[butlersrangers]

The Boeing P-12 is from the U.S. Army Air Corps, 55th Pursuit Squadron, early 1920s.
Some U.S. Spads also wore the swastika emblem, during during WW1.

The U.S. Army 45th Infantry division, with many Native Americans, wore a swastika patch from 1924 to 1939. The patch was changed to a 'Thunderbird' circa 1939.