Last November, a strange form began to take shape in skies above Okanogan County, Washington. A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler screaming through the sky above the small community first left two circular contrails before setting out on an elongated shape connecting the two … and just like that, an internet sensation was born.

In what may be among the most unusual sentences you’ll come across today, the United States Navy was soon forced to issue a formal statement regarding the giant penis drawing in the sky.

“The Navy holds its aircrew to the highest standards and we find this absolutely unacceptable, of zero training value and we are holding the crew accountable.”  A Navy statement said at the time. The two pilots were placed on probation for six months and forced to provide training aimed at “changing the culture” of Naval aviators and support staff. Despite their stern words, the Navy must not have been too upset, however, as one of the two men soon transferred to Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi, where he took on the role of flight instructor.

Now, five months and more than six thousand miles later, the U.S. Air Force has decided to throw in on this measuring contest, drawing a penis all their own.

On Friday, images began to surface on social media of a large penis taking shape in the skies above Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The base serves as headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, as well as serving as the seat for NATO’s Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). Thus far, no details regarding the aircraft or pilots involved have been revealed to the public, so to be fair, it is currently only speculation that this new air-phallus belong to the U.S. Air Force, but based on the nature of the installation, it is seems likely.

With no other details to work from, one can’t help but to be drawn to a direct comparison between the Navy and the Air Force’s respective attempts at demonstrating their… maneuverability. It appears, at first glance, the the Air Force’s drawing may have been larger than the Navy’s… but then, it’s quite a bit messier and not nearly as well executed. It would seem then that this comparison boils down to a timeless argument: size versus skill.

All jokes aside, the U.S. Air Force has yet to address the images that have found their way online and one could argue that this light hearted bit of tom-foolery may have come at the worst possible time. With no fewer than 10 aviation incidents be falling U.S. military aircraft this month alone, most within America’s Defense Department may have trouble finding the humor in this stunt.

Image courtesy of Facebook