Description

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The Air Force Special Projects Office was also the "A" Division of the National Reconnaissance Office, based at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. The organization was charged with overseeing all Air Force satellite intelligence programs.

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A generic patch for "black" projects designed by a member of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4), based at Point Mugu near Camarillo, California. VX-4 eventually merged with VX-5 from NAWC China Lake, also in Southern California, to become VX-9 with detachments at both locations.

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This patch is from the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron, who flew C-5 cargo aircraft out of Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. Part of the 22nd MAS' mission was to conduct late night operations picking up classified aircraft from aerospace plants in Southern California and delivering them to classified locations for testing and evaluation.

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This was the 2nd version of a patch commemorating a flight test series involving a B-2 "Spirit" stealth bomber. The Greek sigma symbol on the test shape's outline signifies the unknown RCS value. The number "509" refers to the 509th Bomb Wing, which operates the United States' stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The alien is a reference to the 509th's infamous lineage. In 1947, the 509th was based at Roswell, New Mexico, home of the "Roswell incident," which ensued after the 509th's commander, Col. William Blanchard, issued a press release whose headline stated: "Roswell Army Airfield Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region."

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TENCAP is an acronym for Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities, a collection of programs that involve developing tactical (battlefield) applications out of reconnaissance satellite capabilities (which are normally thought of as strategic).

"Special" almost invariably means "black" or highly classified.

The phrase "Oderint Dum Metuant" is associated with Caligula, the First century Roman emperor whose name became synonymous with depravity, madness, cruelty, and tyranny. It translates "Let them hate so long as they fear."

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These are from: I could Tell You But Then You Would Have To Be Destroyed By Me -- Emblems From The Pentagons Black World by Trevor Paglen

https://hatoffoil.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/i-could-tell-you-but-th…

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