Hampden Township near Enola in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
History of Bats as Military Symbols
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 28, 2026
1. History of Bats as Military Symbols Marker
From the early 20th century to the present day, bats have served as symbols for various military aviation units and squadrons. One of the earliest instances can be found in U.S. Naval Observation Squadron VOS-3S in the early 1920s. Pilots and observers in this squadron were known to complain that the scout aircraft was ill-suited to observation missions, rendering them "blind as bats." Despite this inauspicious start, bats with their ability to navigate in the dark became popular military emblems carried by nightfighter, patrol, and observation squadrons.
Operation Blind Bat
During the Vietnam War, Operation Blind Bat was among the most dangerous missions of the war. The U.S. Air Force needed a way to detect enemy supply trucks and transport that moved under the cover of night. Operation Blind Bat consisted of a four-ship formation including a C-130 flare ship that lit up the night sky, along with a pair of attack bombers and a U.S. Marine radar-jamming aircraft known as Willy the Whale.
Look Up!
Throughout the park, bat boxes have been erected as part of an Eagle Scout project to preserve native
this page online
[Photo captions, left to right read]
· Vought O2U-1 Corsair of VOS-IS, among the earliest U.S. Naval squadrons to use bats in insignia.
· Patches depicting bats as symbols for various aviation units:
1. Blind Bat Flareship Ops, Vietnam War
2. SEABAT: Naval Sea Combat Systems Engineering Station, Norfolk, Virginia
3. Scouting Squadron VCS-2
4. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242
5. Torpedo Squadron 27[,] World War II
(Photos and patches courtesy of Dr. Scott C. Pedersen www.bathead.com)
Erected by Hampden Township and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Animals.
Location. 40° 17.414′ N, 76° 58.801′ W. Marker is near Enola, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Hampden Township. It can be reached from no nearby street. Marker is in the Hampton Township Veterans Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4345
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 28, 2026
2. History of Bats as Military Symbols Marker
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain Leon Lock Veterans Memorial Amphitheater (within shouting distance of this marker); Path of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); M60A1 Main Battle Tank (within shouting distance of this marker); Battlefield Cross (within shouting distance of this marker); Operation Enduring Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Chicago (SSN-721) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Operation Iraqi Freedom (about 300 feet away); Desert Shield/Desert Storm (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Enola.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
