Last modified: 2016-03-25 by bruce berry
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![[War flag]](../images/m/mz-1975w.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 29 July 1996
The war flag of Mozambique is red with the national symbol in yellow in the canton.
Antonio Martins, 21 Sep 1997
The flag is illustrated in 'Flags and Arms across the World', by
Whitney Smith (1980) [smi80] but with no accompanying text or explanation.
Does anybody know when this flag was used? Is it still used or has
it been replaced?
Jarig Bakker, 08 Feb 2001
I can't give much more info now then I was able in 1996. I am not aware
of any other source than Smith (1980) showing this flag (his earlier work [smi75b] does not
show it). Certainly, it is not shown in Album recap of 1995 nor Album
2000. On the other hand a very similar (or even exactly the same) emblem is
still used as part of the air force roundel.
(black, red equilateral triangle pointing up, yellow emblem). The flag
looks more like a party flag, or possibly a military colour rather than the war
flag. It may be conceived that such a flag was mis-reported in 1980 as
the war flag as still the country was very young and with a very unsettled
political sitation.
Željko Heimer, 09 Feb 2001
On Antonio
Martins' website it states (my translation):
"In an unusual arrangement, even more so for military flags, this one
consisted of a version of the then national flag with a plain red background
and a simplified yellow coat of arms. Very similar to what would become
the flag of FRELIMO itself."
Jorge Candeias, 20 Feb 2001
In view of Antonio's caption "Moçambique (1975-1983): bandeira militar"
I assume that it was an army flag of some kind (FRELIMO paramilitaries perhaps?),
but not the Mozambican war flag - Mozambique's war flag is its national flag.
Jarig Bakker, 20 Feb 2001
Actually it isn't clear at all. The expression "bandeira militar" means
"military flag". Now, what's a military flag? Either it's a generic term
for any flag used in the military forces, or it's something quite close
to a war flag. But not quite a war flag, I suppose. My impression is that
the status of this flag was pretty close to the status of the Portuguese
military flag. The Portuguese military flag does not replace the national
flag in any circumstance (and therefore is not a war flag) but is the flag
of the Portuguese armed forces. A sort of the top in the hierarchy of branch
and regimental colors.
Jorge Candeias, 21 Feb 2001
The technical term for a military color in a number of Spanish-speaking
countries is "bandera de guerra"--war flag. But it's not a war flag as
defined by FIAV. It's (usually) a variation of the national flag with fancier
embroidery and the unit name, motto, etc., on it, carried on parade, not
hoisted above the camp as a substitute for the national flag.
Joe McMillan, 21 Feb 2001
The flag is honoured, yes, but soldiers swear to the *national* flag
when they finish basic instruction, for instance.
Jorge Candeias, 22 Feb 2001
![[Mozambican roundel]](../images/m/mz^round.gif)
image by Jarig Bakker, 26 Mar 2001
This ex-Portuguese colony became independent in 1975 and formed an armed
combat air force by 1976. The airforce markings are based on the national flag and consist
of a black disc containing a red triangle. On this area various designs:
a book for education, a hoe for agriculture, and a rifle for the fight
for independence. Aircraft are marked above and below the wings and on
the fin.
Source: Cochrane and Elliot's 'Military Aircraft Insignia of the
World', 1998.
The emblem on the roundel is uncanny similar to the mysterious Mozambican
warflag mentioned above.
Jarig Bakker, 26 Mar 2001
Aircraft Marking.
Black roundel with red up-pointing equilateral triangle containing
yellow emblem - cog wheel, book, rifle, hoe and star.
Željko Heimer, 01 Jul 2002
Força Aérea de Moçambique was formed in 1975 and adopted a red triangle
on red square charged with the emblem (as on the flag)
in gold inside a gold cogwheel. [cos98]
shows the roundel as used also as fin flash. [whe86]
shows a red square fin flash charged with gold cogwheel, and inside the
cogwheel on white background there is the emblem in gold with red
star.
[cos98] is correct and the roundel
is used also as fin flash.
Dov Gutterman, 21 Jun 2004