8 by 9.5 inches
Mort Cohen collection
The 517th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, better known to most Soldiers as a unit crest or DUI, was approved on 29 December 1958. It had previously been approved for the 517th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Regiment (April 1938 to October 1940), the 79th Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment (October 1940 to June 1949), the 78th AAA Gun Battery (June 1949 to June 1956), and the 78th Antiaircraft Artillery Missile Battalion (June 1956 to December 1958).
Scarlet has been either the sole or primary branch color for Artillery units—including Air Defense Artillery units, even though they are in a distinct branch—since the early 1800s, but the images of a dive bomber in what appears to be a spotlight makes it clear that this is an Air Defense Artillery insignia rather than standard artillery; if not, the motto “We Sweep The Sky” should clear up any confusion.
Note: The organization for which this insignia was last approved appears to be inactive. It may have been redesignated, reorganized and redesignated, inactivated, deactivated, or disbanded.
