US Navy officials have confirmed one of their aircraft was responsible for drawing a phallic image in the sky above Washington state on Thursday.

Multiple photographs have sprung up on social media showing a crude outline of male genitalia written in the sky by navy pilots.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island officials confirmed the lewd drawing was done during a training exercise and those involved will be reprimanded.

Okanogan County locals took to social media to share pictures of what had been drawn in the sky above them (Image: Twitter/Adam Gessaman)

"US Navy air crew, flying an F/A-18 Growler (Electronic Attack Aircraft) assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, flew an air pattern over Okanogan County, Washington, on Thursday, November 16, that left a condensed air trail resembling an obscene image to observers on the ground," US Navy officials said in a statement to KREM-2 yesterday.

"We have grounded the aircrew and are conducting a thorough investigation - and we will hold those responsible accountable for their actions."

In a statement released earlier on Friday, officials said they were "holding the crew accountable."

Some were shocked by the image but others found it humorous (Image: Twitter/Brett Fancher)

A mother who lives in Okanogan County, where the skywriting was most visible, told the television news outlet she was upset she may need to explain what the drawings were to her young children.