Plate 12:
Fig. 1. Fuerza Aerea Flag
Blue with gold fringe, shield enclosed by double white lines, shield dark blue with grey falcon and banner, black lettering "HALCON GRIS" and "DESDE EL AIRE, ORDEN, PAZ, LEALTAD.", yellow lightning bolt from the claws of the falcon. White scolls with black lettering on main field.
Fig.2. Riot Police Patch
light blue outlined in red, yellow letters, natural black dog with red mouth, white teeth, this was worn on dark berets.
Fig.3. Flag
red with yellow fringe, yellow lettering, full colour F.F.D.D. badge. This flag was flown over the Comandancia [HQ.] destroyed in the U.S. invasion.
Plate 13:
Fig.1 . Riot Police
Olive drab fatigues, no insignia, black web equipment, shiny black helmet and neck protection. Shield [with window slit at top] can be either black or camouflaged black! olive drab! brown, and had a white knight's helmet in profile on the front upper centre. Note rubber truncheon and black gas mask carrier straped to leg.
Fig.2. An officer
of no particular unit wearing two uncommon items; dark green-brown side cap piped gold with silver rank bars, and a light grey-green windbreaker with brown and silver shoulder straps, trousers the normal chocolate brown-green.
Fig.3. Air Force shoulder straps
with dark blue inserts with silver lace.
Fig.4. Air Force Wings
gold wings, silver star and wreath, coloured shield, gold "F.A.P." on white.
Fig.5. Air Force Sgt.
silver "R.P" and winged propeller on collar, dark blue hat, uniforms are all dark blue trousers and light blue shirts, silver buckles, black belt. Enlisted chevrons are yellow, officers rank is silver on dark blue.
Fig.6. Air Force Officer
as per fig 5. but with dark blue cap with black band, above is an officer's side cap in dark blue with silver piping and star.
Fig.7. Air Force Flag bearer
as for fig.5. but with white helmet with dark blue band and white belting.
Plate 14:
Fig. 1. Escuela de Oficiales Gral. Benjamin Ruiz
tan shirt, trousers and hat, red piping on hat and trousers, dark tan belt, gold buckle. Red shoulder boards with yellow stripes and crossed rifles, F.F.D.D. patch on left sleeve with red/white/blue cords. School crest on hatm school patch on right sleeve, gold "R.P." and crossed rifles on collarn beneath the shoulder boards are tan shoulder straps piped red, red neck scarf.
Fig.2. Cadet, Instituto Militar General Tomas Herrera
light blue shirt, denim trousers, maroon slipons with silver stripes on shoulder straps, dark blue/grey hat, black belt with gold buckle, right sleeve yellow title tab with red lettering, left sleeve I.M.G.T.H. patch.
Fig.3. Patch for the Instituto Militar General Tomas Herrera
yellow field outlined in black, white scroll with black letters, black scales [?] above shield, red! white/blue quarters to shield [top left and bottom right quarters are white, top right quarter red, bottom left quarter blue, top star blue on white field, bottom star red on white field, green book, silver machetes, yellow horse shoes, green leaves and branches.
Fig.4.& 5. Cadets Escuela de Oficiales General Benjamin Ruiz
[until 1988 Escuela de Sub-Oficiales General Benjamin Ruiz] , beige uniforms with silver buttons, straw hat with red! white/blue twisted cord and flecked balls. Double red stripe on trousers, brown leather belt and machete sheath with silver buckle and decoration, black shoes and white gloves, school patch on hat and right sleeve, F.P.D.D. patch on left sleeve. Flecked red/white/blue tufted balls on machete handle.
Fig.6. Escuela de Oficiales General Benjamin Ruiz, School patch
[at Rio Hato], dark green field outlined in black, yellow lettering, natural coloured figure on dark ground, brown trousers, green T-shirt, tan hat.
Plate 15:
Fig. 1. Officer Navy, officer in whites
trimmed black and gold, gold national coat of arms on hat, full colour F.F.D.D. badge on sleeve, note that the visor of his hat is decorated with only a gold strip, white hat and shoes. inserts show rank shoulder straps and a higher grade officers hat with oak leaves on visor.
Fig.2.Officer Navy, in tans
tan hat trimmed in black and gold lace, black and gold shoulder straps, full colour F.F.D.D. badge, black shoes, tan belt, gold buckle, tan plastic buttons.
Fig.3. Flagbearer Navy, in whites
including white hat, belts and bootlaces.
Fig.4. Navy Flag
light blue field with gold lace fringe, blue/white/red shield, grey anchors, brown helm wheel with white lettering "FUERZAS DE DEFENSA" - "TODO POR LA PATRIA", white ship on a dark blue sea with a yellow sun in a light blue sky, gold "MARINA" - "PANAMA".
Plate 16:
Fig. 1. Sailor
uniform all white, trimmed in black, note black cloth under collar and tied in front, full colour F.F.D.D. badge, black rank and trade badge.
Fig.2. Sailor
White hat, light blue work shirt, denim trousers, black shoes and belt, silver buckle, full colour F.F.D.D. badge, yellow rank [outlined dark green, since it is actually army insignia], black plastic buttons.
Not shown is la Compania de Infanteria de Marina, camoflage battledress uniforms, ALICE equipment, dark [blue? / black?] berets, AK rifles [these were quartered at Coco Solo].
Many thanks Mark for this the last part of your article, I'm sure that in time your notes will be of help to future researchers, as they are to me now. Thanks again and try to stay out of trouble in foreign lands, unlike in Panama. T.D.H.
[ I have included a flag that is in the collection of Mr.B.Weed, California, this was captured in "Operation Just Cause" by the U.S. 7th Light Infantry. The colouring details are; forest green camo field [double sided] , black twist fringe, lettering in black felt machine sewn on, both sides, black felt central device, outlined in heavy yellow thread [64 cm. high and 87 cm. long]. [Thanks Ben, anything else such as colour details to Panamanian patches in your collection. T.D.H.]
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