Size: 59 x 122 inches

( 4 feet 9 inches x 10 feet 2 inches)

Since World War II, Valley Forge American flags have been flown by the armed forces in many American wars, conflicts and battles. During WWII the Valley Forge flag was the American flag of the Pacific Fleet. This rare WWII U.S. Navy Flag was made by the famous Valley Forge Flag Company and is marked U.S. Ensign No. 7. This WWII Naval flag is in fair to good condition and is used, worn and ocean/sun stained with frayed sections where the wind has frayed the cloth. There are many documented uses of the Valley Forge ensign No. 7 flags seen and used during WWII on Essex-class carriers. The flag has a heavy duty wool bunting with sewn stripes & stars, finished with a roped canvas header and a ring, lead-line and brass snap. The ensign is marked in black on the obverse hoist. There is no shipyard repair to the flag and still contains its original damaged use marks and frayed cloth. 

This would make an amazing additional to any WWII, Navy or ship collection! 

Famous used of Valley Forge flag during WWII:

Japan

The famous flag raised by five Marines and one Navy corpsman on Feb. 23, 1945 on Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, was manufactured by Valley Forge. On this date in the battle of Iwo Jima, Marines took control of Mount Suribachi, and the assault platoon raised a small American flag in victory. Later that day other troops lowered the small flag to raise a larger one, and news photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment in what would become an memorable, Pulitzer prize winning photograph. The flag raisers were Michael Stack, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley, Ira Hayes and Rene Gagnon. The larger Iwo Jima flag is now on display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.

Germany

Between July 1937 and April 1945, 250,000 people from all countries of Europe were imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany by the Nazi regime. These prisoners, who were subjected to forced labor, medical experimentation, severe torture and death, consisted of Jewish people, political prisoners, criminals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Prisoners of War, foreign forced laborers, German military deserters, resistance fighters, and former government officials of German-occupied countries. Including its 88 sub-camps across Germany, Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps created by the Nazis. On April 11, 1945, prisoners seized the camp awaiting liberation by invading U.S. troops. Later that day U.S. soldiers liberated more than 20,000 prisoners, and a Valley Forge American flag was raised as a symbol of the prisoners’ freedom.

France

On June 6th, 1944, D-Day, Ste. Mère-Église in Normandy, France was liberated by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward C. Krause and his division. Ste. Mère-Église was the first French town to be liberated, and Krause raised an American flag manufactured by Valley Forge over the town. The flag, which was also flown in the liberation of Naples in 1943, was given to the town by Krause’s wife after his death. It is kept in the town hall.

The battle at Ste. Mère-Église was made famous by paratrooper John Steel, who landed on the church, entangling his parachute in the steeple. He was cut down and taken prisoner by the Germans and later released by the Americans. An effigy of John Steel is suspended on the church steeple today.

D-Day

A Valley Forge flag was raised in pursuit of freedom on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Omaha Beach was one of five landing beaches, codenamed by the Allied Expeditionary Forces in the Normandy Invasion, a.k.a. "Operation Overlord." The invasion did not run smoothly, and the high death toll of more than 2,000 people gave the beach the name "Bloody Omaha." It was one of the most difficult assault landings in military history, but its success was important to the success of the entire Allied Invasion. Eventually the beach was secured.