Top Gun, Vexilloids & Patches on Leather Jacket of US Naval Aviator Lieut. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Back of Maverick's Aviator Jacket
Top Gun 1986

The flags on the large central patch are - the United States, United Nations, Japan, and Taiwan.










Left side of Maverick's Leather Jacket
Top Gun 1986

Here Maverick shakes his hand with Mike "Viper" the teacher. As he does the port side of his leather jacket is visible. Always remember that Portugal is on the left-port side of Europe.








Front side of Jacket
Top Gun 1986

Notice the flag of patch of Texas on his left shoulder. In 1986 the threat of nuclear war palatable in the media. In the US Navy, the top gun vehicle was the F-14 Tomcat, before the age of covert drone planes. In a quantum stretch you can think of a fighter jet as being simply a flying gun. It's a real fancy gun with wings and can do all kinds of tricks.




Right side by Airport
Top Gun 1986

Here Maverick played by Tom Cruise sits on a motorcycle by the military landing strip for fighter jets. The right-starboard side of his jacket is visible. Remember to reach for the star-board stars with your right hand like a right wing patriotic American - otherwise you'll be a left wing cosmonaut.

Flags in Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

United Hospital Flag
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Before Sex in the City, Friends, and Animal House there was Breakfast at Tiffany's. This move was made on the eve the 60s revolution. It featured racy themes, open relationships, and the humorous high life of socialite bohemians.



Flags & NYC Central Park Pennants 1961
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

The early part of the 60s were very much like the stiff 50s. Subsequently pennants of all sorts were popular items. By 1971 pennants became stale items of sale. Maybe someday they will return to their former glory in the 2050s?




Cross Checker Flag Logo
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Love though the ages is still love. Here our male lead Paul the writer is getting out of Checker Flag logo taxi. Checker flags are popular flags in all automotive sports - and as logos for taxis all across America and the World.



Shoplifting at the 5 & 10
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Shoplifting is a serious crime but in the movie the audience finds its self rooting for the dishonest side to win. In the background is a US flag on a bag-lunch box.





Holly in front of Tiffany's by flag of the USA
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Tiffany's Jewlery Co. in NYC no doubt became an American Institution after the making of this movie. Here Holly Golightly is getting home at dawn after a night of the high life with the big wigs of NYC. Note the social norm of 1961 was socially nothing like 1969. But this movie was the start of things to come.





The essence of the movie captured in a song


Hey Gen X - you remember ?

Other flags and Vexilloids in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Decorative pennants in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

US Flag in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

US Flag on Pee-wee's house
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Tour de France Flags in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Notice the flag of France along the utility line
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Flag of Texas in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Flag of Texas on a bus
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

In Pee-wee's first feature film he heads to Alamo in Texas to find his bicycle as foretold by a fortune teller. Here Pee-wee is hiding behind a bus with the flag of Texas painted on it.

Bicycle Handle Bar Streamers - from Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985
notice the simplest of childhood vexilloids the
bicycle handlebar streamers

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure came to life in 1985 and it features many kinds of vexilloids. Of vexillological note are the bicycle streamers of his beloved bicycle. Bicycle handlebar streamers are popular on children's bicycles, usually until the tween age.





Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985
notice the varied colours of the streamers

This film is essential cult classic for American male tweens in their first year of middle or junior high school. Paul Rubens plays as Pee-wee Herman, a grown up man who refuses to grow up. Pee-wee is something like Spongebob but more zany and without a side kick.




Close up of the bicycle vexilloid -
"handlebar streamers"

Close up of bicycle handle bar streams - usually made of plastic, string, or some kind of strong paper like material. They can vary in shape, number and color. Sometimes they are specific for gender - for instance pink is reserved as a bicycle streamer. Other times they can be patriotic - as is the case with a red, white and blue streamers.