Size: 38.5 x 80 inches

This is an extremely rare WWII U.S. Navy Flag was made at Mare Island Naval Station in San Francisco Bay, in 1944 (marked "M.I. 44"). This flag is in near perfect mint and unissued condition, making it one of only a small handful of WWII era 1944 Mare Island Naval landing and assault craft flags of this condition known to exist in the world.

Because of the high demand of military and Naval flags, unissued flags of this caliber are almost rarely seen and are reserved for high end war museums. The U.S. Navy numbers its flags 1 through 12, one being the largest and 12 the smallest. This flag being marked No. 9 would have been reserved for a medium assault boar and landing craft.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first naval base on the west coast of the United States. It is 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, near Vallejo, California. During WWII the base was used for ship building and repair. There were 46,000 workers employed there during the war. It comprised over 900 buildings, and the base closed in 1996. The flag loft employed 500 workers, 400 women doing their part by working 8 hours a day 6 days a week. Flag No. 9 was designated on the U.S. Ensign R.I.F. Chart to be hoist at 80” fly height.

What makes this flag even more rare are the hand painted white 48 stars seen on the crisp blue fabric. The MI 44 stamp is very prominent with almost no sun damage and pristine preservation of the fabric stitching, color, and 3 steel metal rivets.