Rare - 'Salty' Heavy Theater Used Condition - 48 Star Ensign No. 7 Naval Destroyer, Battleship, Carrier Type Flag*
Rare - 'Salty' Heavy Theater Used Condition - 48 Star Ensign No. 7 Naval Destroyer, Battleship, Carrier Type Flag*
Size: 115 in (9.58 feet) x 54 (4.5 feet)
This rare ‘salty’ and theater flown WWII large type U.S. Navy Flag is marked “U.S. ENSIGN NO. 7”. Stamped in heavy duty black ink this U.S. NAVY ENSIGN flag shows an incredible used and salty condition seen on flags switched out after wear and use. Most of the used and worn WWII ENSIGN theater flags were usually taken down and kept by a Navy sailor or GI because it was flown during a major battle and operation or the ship was being damaged repaired in a dock and they were kept was war souvenirs. Used Navy flags from WWII taken off large ships were a very sought after war prize as talked about by many WWII veterans. The NO. 7 type flag type is historically documented as being issued and flown on large WWII Naval ships such as the Destroyer, Battleship, Carrier types. The NO. 7 marked flag is one of the most sought after MI number (No.) marks by collectors. The two main Iwo Jima flags were a #11 and later a #7 ENSIGN.
Because of the high demand of military and Naval flags, unissued flags are almost rarely seen and are reserved for high end war museums. While the ship this flag was flown on and theater it served in will forever be lost to history this flag has an appeal to many collectors because of its used and salty appearance. Imagine this flag being flown high above the deck as it was attacked by Japanese Kamikazes, participating in Naval bombardments of a shoreline before an amphibious landing, or transporting new supplies, tanks, and infantry around the ETO or PTO.
The U.S. Navy numbers its flags 1 through 12, one being the largest and 12 the smallest. This flag being marked No. 7 would have been reserved Destroyer, Battleship, Carrier types. Flag No. 7 was designated on the U.S. Ensign R.I.F. Chart to be hoist at 117” fly height.