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  U.S. NAVY COMMISSIONING PENNANT FROM THE U.S.S. HAAS, A WWII DESTROYER ESCORT

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 2" x 47.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 14" x 22.5"
Description....:
U.S. NAVY COMMISSIONING PENNANT FROM THE U.S.S. HAAS, A WWII DESTROYER ESCORT: U.S. Navy commissioning pennant with 7 stars, probably made during WWII for use on the U.S.S. Haas, a destroyer escort, which was commissioned in 1944, during wartime, and saw service in the Phillipines. The word HAAS is written in black ink along the pennant's canvas hoist. This ship was named for one John William Haas, a chief machinist and pilot who was a member of the famed Torpedo Squadron 3. Hass lost his life in action during the battle of Midway. Commissioning pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. A ship became commissioned when this pennant was hoisted, and the commissioning pennant is flown during both times of peace and war, and is only not flown if a flag officer or civilian official is aboard and replaces it with their own flag. At less than four feet in length, this is the smallest variety. Earlier pennants can well-exceed 20 feet in length. According to the U.S. Navy, the reason for the choice of seven stars was not recorded. Earlier pennants often have 13 stars. The choice of 7 stars might stand for the 7 seas, or may have simply been what seemed to be a logical design choice when these pennants were substantially shortened. Today the largest commissioning pennants measure 2.5" x 6'. History of the U.S.S. Hass: Haas (DE-424) was launched 20 March 1944 by the Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. Gladys Winifred Haas, widow of the late Chief Machinist Haas; and commissioned 2 August 1944, Lt. Comdr. A.M. White, USNR, in command. After shakedown in the Caribbean and escort duty along the East coast, Haas arrived Manus, Admiralty Islands via the Panama Canal, the Galapagos Islands, and Espiritu Santo 15 January 1945. America's gigantic Pacific war effort had carried her fleet back to the Philippines, and Haas sailed to Leyte 27 January to assume escort and patrol duties in the still-contested islands. In addition, the destroyer escort provided shore bombardment and fire support for initial assault landings at Lubang Island 1 March and Romblon and Simara Islands 1-12 March. Haas escorted a convoy from Okinawa to Leyte in July and another from Ulithi to Manila in early August, just before news of the Japanese capitulation. After war's end she continued to serve as an escort and dispatch ship in the Pacific, with frequent trips along the China coast. On 5 January 1946 Haas streamed her homeward bound pennant and sailed from Hong Kong for San Diego via Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor. Reaching her destination 1 February, Haas decommissioned there 31 May 1946 and joined the "mothball fleet." Haas recommissioned at San Diego 19 May 1951 and after shakedown reported to 8th Naval District headquarters at New Orleans 18 September to begin duties as a reserve training ship. Cruising primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, with occasional visits to Central and South America, Haas trained some 900 reservists annually as part of the Navy's never-ending effort to maintain skilled and ready reserve. Entering the Charleston Navy Yard 7 November 1957, and decommissioned there 24 January 1958, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she remained until scrapped in December 1966. [Struck from the Navy list 1 July 1966, and sold on 6 September 1967.] Source: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DE/de424.html Construction: The stripes of the pennant are made of wool bunting and joined with a lineal machine stitch. The stars are made of cotton and double-appliqued with a zigzag stitch. There is a canvas sleeve with one brass grommet. Mounting: The pennant has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton rag mat and placed in a paint-decorated molding that dates to the period between 1890 and 1920. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is u.v. protective.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 7
Earliest Date of Origin: 1941
Latest Date of Origin: 1945
State/Affiliation:
War Association: WW 2
Price: No
 

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