Internet graphical artifacts, used for custom decal creation

Left is "Blue Max" star insignia, right is US 1st Calvary Division (Airmobile) patch. Latter icon modified with Photoshop for a richer in-depth Yellow color.

1st Cavalry Division (United States) | Wiki

Although inspiration for "Blue Max" title of 7th Battery - 79th Aerial Field Artillery (7/79th ARA) was not ascertained.

Leading guess was 1966 US movie "The Blue Max" of fictitious WW1 Imperial Germany fighter ace Bruno Stachel (starring George Peppard). Cobra units were not formed until 1967.

The Blue Max | Wiki

Stachel was a German infantrymen who volunteered as fighter pilot, but his squadron compatriots snickered at his social background since he came from working / middle class, and did not possess aristocratic lineage common to German officer ranks.

Action/Drama actor George Peppard is well known to American audiences of 1950s-1980s. Movies to his credit include 1959 Pork Chop Hill, 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1965 Operation Crossbow, 1972-1974 Banacek, 1983-1987 The A Team. Movie tidbit : Peppard was hired for lead role "Blake Carrington" in famed 1981 TV series "Dynasty", but after multiple clashes with its producers, he was fired and actor replaced with John Forsythe. All of Peppard scenes were reshot, rest is history.

George Peppard | Wiki

Actual "Blue Max" award, basic profile of which used for 7/79th AFA unit insignia.

Imperial German award had French inscriptions "Pour le Merite" (for the merit).

Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) | Wiki

Award established in 1740 by Prussia's King Frederick II, and used up to WW1 end. This lineage represented by Crown outline adored atop with letter "F".

Abit of irony, French ( not German ) was official language of Prussian royal court ( due to legal and academic influences ).

After WW1, Germany replaced its highest military award with Knight's Cross ( Ritterkreuz ), instituted 1939 - 1945. Knight's Cross award came in 5 ranks for either heroic or multiple acts of heroism during combat.

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | Wiki

Its highest rank was "Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds"... that is with real gold and diamonds embedded.

OAK LEAVES WITH SWORDS & DIAMONDS TO THE KNIGHT'S CROSS AWARD | TRC

Its only recipient was Luftwaffe's Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel, famed Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber and tank-buster. Rudel actually had 2 sets, one personally awarded by Chancellor Adolf Hitler, second set by Luftwaffe Reichsmarshall Hermann Goering. BTW, Goering was a famed WW1 Imperial German fighter ace, bestowed with coveted "Pour le Merite" (Blue Max) military award.

Hans-Ulrich Rudel | Wiki

Hermann Goering | Wiki

Twin yellow cannons insignia for Aerial Field Artillery arm ( right ) derived from US Army Field Artillery red patch ( left ).

Aerial Rocket Artillery Association | ARAorg

Symbols are cannons placed in cross formation, artillery type used in USA from independence up to late-1800s when rifled artillery guns were introduced.

Field Artillery Branch (United States) | Wiki

Cannon | Wiki

Blue Max, Aerial Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division custom designed decals printed on white decal sheet.

Layer of gloss enamel clear coat sprayed from aerosol can. This sealed the decal, and prevented color dilution when items are soaked in water before transfer to model surface.

Abit of "low tech" tactic, white edging to Blue Max decal had to be cut away. After removing sections from star edges, there was not enough space to hold, manage, and cut decal further.

Hence, taped decal to sheet of paper (which gave more handling space), and removed remaining white decal edging.

Executed same tactic with ARA's Yellow Cannon decals.

Blue Max decal transferred to Cobra, hand-painted layer of Testor Decal Setting solution for decal contour fit.