Many varieties of national insignia used by the Red Army of China in the years leading up to the formation of the People's Republic of China are illustrated below.

Mao Tse-tung's guerrilla forces first came into contact with military aircraft in 1925 when, in a temporary alliance with the KMT, the Aviation Bureau of the KMT was set up in November 1925. Using Soviet pilots and ground crew, this formed the nucleus of the future KMT Air Force. An aviation element operated with the Red Army's IV Corps between 1926 and 1927.

A Fukien People's Republic Air Force also operated from Hangkow between 1933 and 1938 (see page 88 for inventory). Aviation was set up on a more formal basis when the Red Army of China Air Force was set up in 1935. This air arm survived until the establishment of the establishment of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in July 1946.

Other important steps in Communist Chinese air power included the setting up of the Aviation Bureau of the Military Commission of the Communist Party of China in March 1946 and the formation of a Soviet run Flying School in Harbin, Manchuria in 1948.

On 28^th Feb., 1930, a National Chinese reconnaissance aircraft O2U-4 Corsair was force landed due to running out of fuel. The Red Army captured it. It was repainted and with red star and named after ‘Lenin’. It was later used against the Chinese National Government.

 Under the agreement of Sinkiang autonomy and Chinese Communist, a few officers selected from Red Army were sent to the Sinkiang Aviation School for basic flight training. Aircrafts used included Polikarpov R-5, I-15 and I-16.

    This style of marking was applied to a Japanese Army Air Force Tachikawa Ki.54 Hickory captured by Communist forces in Northern China in 1944. Chinese characters were painted over the Japanese roundels in White, representing CHICOM (Chinese Communists). A standard KMT Blue and White roundel was painted on the tail, presumably as an insurance against attack by Allied warplanes.

During the initial setup of the Communist Aviation School in Manchuria, all aircraft wore the same National Chinese roundel with white border and with 4 blue and 3 white strips on the rudder.

 To avoid miss up with National Chinese aircraft, all Red Chinese aircraft wore this national marking between 1947 and 1950. It was used mainly by aircraft from the Communist Aviation School in Manchuria and the 1^st Squadron of the Air Combat Group. Representative types: Kawasaki Ki.45, Mitsubishi Ki.30 Ann, Mitsubishi Ki.46 and Nakajima Ki.43 Hayabusa, Tachikawa Ki-55.

 An alternative marking was this simple star, worn on the wings and fuselage of several types, notably the Manshu Ki.79a and Ki.79b trainers in North China and Manchuria, and at the Sian Air Academy.

 This simplified curved star and circle roundel was used on several types between 1946 and 1950. This was the first national marking that included Chine characters representing the formation date of the Red Army of China on 1 August 1928. Representative types Kawasaki Ki.45 Nick, Mitsubishi Ki.30 Ann, Mitsubishi Ki.46 Dinah Mitsubishi ki.51 Sonia and Tachikawa Ki.55 Ida.

 This star insignia with bars in Red and White was yet another national marking to make its appearance around 1946. This style of marking was applied to many of the aircraft included in the list on this page.

The familiar Star and bar Chinese national insignia made its first appearance in 1949, and has continued in use up to the present day.

People's Liberation Army Air Force (2nd Division)

In 2001, some of the aircrafts of 2nd Division has been noticed to wear a badge on fin.

In 1987, the PLAAF established a Flight Test and Training Center at Cangzhou Airbase, Hebei Province. This center has three primary missions: to test new aircraft under development by the aviation ministry; to train the pilots in new type aircraft; and to devise new air combat tactics.

The Training Center also established a blue forces aggressor squadron located nearby to simulate offensive and defensive operations against the "Red Force". 

In late 2006, a JH-7 has been noted with a new insignia. Further details are required.

In 2001, 81st Aerobatic Team has received their 2nd batch of J7EB. The color scheme had changed from red to blue.

After July 1st 1997, China has reclaimed her sovereignty over Hong Kong. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was formed. Government Flying Service in Hong Kong started to use new insignia up to the present day.