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  WWII BATTLE FLAG FROM THE U.S.S. FLINT WITH 48 STARS, BROUGHT HOME BY FIREMAN 2ND CLASS F. W. PERRINE, EMBROIDERED WITH HIS NAME, THE SHIP'S NAME, AND DATES OF SERVICE

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 38.5" x 66.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 26.5" x 54.75"
Description....:
WWII BATTLE FLAG FROM THE U.S.S. FLINT WITH 48 STARS, BROUGHT HOME BY FIREMAN 2ND CLASS F. W. PERRINE, EMBROIDERED WITH HIS NAME, THE SHIP'S NAME, AND DATES OF SERVICE:

This extraordinary piece of history is a small-scale battle flag from the USS Flint (CL-97), a modified Atlanta-class cruiser (sometimes referred to as Oakland class cruiser), brought home by the ship's 2nd Lt. L. W. Perrine. Past the sheer scarcity of WWII, military production, U.S. Navy Battle flags in the open market that were flown during wartime, the primary thing that makes this flag special is that either the sailor or one of his family members embroidered the bottom stripe with his name, the use of the flag, dates of service, and the name of the ship. This reads:

"F.W. Perrine F 2/C [Fireman, 2nd Class]"

Followed by:

"Flown in Battle Aboard
From 0/1/44 to 6/1/46. U.S.S. Flint CL97"

Some Facts About the U.S.S. Flint:
The U.S.S. Flint was named after the city of Flint, Michigan. She was launched on 25 January 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Company of San Francisco, California, sponsored by Mrs. R. A. Pitcher. She was and commissioned on 31 August 1944, with Captain C. R. Will in command.

Though its service was late in the war, the USS Flint was extremely active and received four battle stars for World War II service.

Flint reported to the 3rd Fleet for duty at Ulithi on December 27th, 1944, and 6 days later, sailed with TF 38 for a month-long cruise in support of the invasion of Luzon. She screened aircraft carriers as they launched strikes on Luzon, Taiwan, and the China coast, and fired protective anti-aircraft cover during a Japanese kamikaze attack on 21 January 1945. Replenishing at Ulithi from 26 January to 10 February, Flint then sailed with newly designated Task Force 58 for air strikes on Tokyo preceding the attack on Iwo Jima. Her force arrived off Iwo Jima on 21 February to fly air support for the Marines who had landed two days previously, and Flint returned to Ulithi 12 March for a brief 2 days of replenishment.

Putting to sea with TF 58 for strikes against Kyūshū in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa, Flint aided in bringing down several airplanes in heavy attacks on the task force from 18 March to 22 March 1945. The task force then closed Okinawa, and Flint with other cruisers bombarded beach installations in preparation for the landings on 1 April. Aside from the period 14 to 24 May, when she was at Ulithi for upkeep, Flint operated off Okinawa until 13 June, when she anchored in Leyte Gulf.

Flint sortied from Leyte on 1 July 1945 to screen the final air attacks on the Japanese home islands and to join the bombardment of the east coast of Honshū until the cessation of hostilities. On 24 August, she took station off Nii Shima to serve as rescue ship and homing station for transport planes carrying occupation troops to Japan. Between 10 September and 15 September, she lay in Tokyo Bay, then sailed with a carrier task force to provide air and sea surveillance of Central Honshū until September 21st.

The cruiser made a voyage from Japan to Eniwetok, then loaded homeward bound servicemen at Yokosuka on 13 October 1945, bringing them into San Francisco Bay on 28 November. After sailing to Kwajalein to bring home more servicemen eligible for discharge, Flint reported at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, on 11 January 1946, and there was placed out of commission in reserve at Bremerton on 6 May 1947, but was refurbished and reclassified CLAA-97 on March 18th, 1949. Her original dedication plaque currently rests in the Sloan Museum, in the city she is named after. [Source: Wikipedia]

Construction: The stripes and canton of the flag are made of wool bunting that has been joined with machine stitching. The cotton stars are double-appliqued (applied to both sides of the blue canton) with a zigzag stitch. There is a canvas sleeve with 4 heavy metal grommets, along which the following text was stenciled in black ink: "U.S. Ens. 11" (United States Ensign No. 11). The number was a code to indicate the size of the flag. It does not indicate feet in length; in fact, the larger the number, the smaller the flag. The text on the last stripe is embroidered in ivory white thread.

Mounting: The flag has been stitched to 100% silk organza on every seam and throughout the star field for support. Then flag was then hand-sewn to background of 100% cotton twill, black in color, which has been washed to remove excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash and the fabric was heat-treated to further set the dye. The flag was then placed in a black-painted and hand-gilded, contemporary Italian molding. The front is U.V. protective acrylic.

Condition: There is moderate mothing, particularly in the white stripes. There is minor to moderate foxing and staining, accompanied by corrosion on the grommets. This is a beautiful state of preservation for a WWII flag that was actually flown in battle for a period of two years. Since the battle flag was kept stored away until it was needed, the state of its condition isn't surprising: well-used but not destroyed.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 48
Earliest Date of Origin: 1944
Latest Date of Origin: 1944
State/Affiliation: Michigan
War Association: WW 2
Price: SOLD
 

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