The soaring Black Panther is symbolic of the strength, cunning, and superb physical condition of both the Regiment and its troopers. That it's winged, indicates its airborne capabilities and mission.
The silver background of the shield represents the shining and unblemished record of the Regiment throughout its history.
The four slanting bars, blue for infantry, signify the four major airborne assaults made by the 505th during World War II: Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and Holland.
The crest is a red-winged arrowhead, red for courage, which symbolizes that the 505th, at Sicily was the first regiment in U.S. Army history to make a regimental-size airborne attack. The cloud depicts the sky from which the attack came.
The blue and silver wreathed bar just beneath the arrowhead indicates that this crest was won in combat, and was awarded to the Regiment by the nation for its valor and record in combat.
The "H-Minus" was part of the original philosophy of the parachute idea - that is, to be inserted behind enemy lines prior to H-hour (the scheduled time for the main attack) - and is retained as a sound, yet exemplary motto which sums up the airborne attack mission.
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