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LOT 3410
Historic World War II U.S. 48-Star Command Center Flag Marked for the 77th Infantry Division at the Battle of Okinawa - This historic flag is marked for the 77th Infantry Division and is tagged as being from the Battle of Okinawa. In early 1944, the 77th Infantry Division landed in Hawaii after over a year of training in amphibious and jungle warfare. On 1 July 1944, they left Hawaii and took part in the assault landing on Guam to recapture it from the Japanese, which took until 8 August. Next they landed on the east coast of Leyte and eventually played a pivotal role in the capture of Ormoc City and Valencia Airfield. The division continued mopping up operations on the island until 5 February 1945. The next combat assignment for the 77th was Okinawa. The division was used heavily in late March, making 15 landings in three days to secure the Kerama Islands around Okinawa in preparation for the attack. Okinawa was of great importance to the allied war effort, as it was intended as a major base of operations for Operation Downfall, the invasion of mainland Japan. On 16 April, the 77th landed on le Shima, a small island west of Okinawa proper, where they were involved in heavy fighting. The famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle was killed by a Japanese sniper during the fighting to take le Shima, which was secured by the 77th on 21 April. On 28 April 1945, they were moved to the Okinawan mainland to relieve the 96th Infantry Division, meeting heavy Japanese resistance, but managing to drive towards Shuri along with the 1st Marine Division. By the end of June 1945, Okinawa had finally fallen to the 77th and Allied forces. By the end of their time in the Pacific Theater, the 77th had taken part in approximately 208 days of sustained combat. The flag itself is stenciled on the header with “1944 77th INF DIV” and has two grommets. Attached to the lower grommet is a small tag that is period hand marked in ink with “From Battle of Okinawa”. At one time the flag likely measured approximately 57 x 77 inches overall but now has significant portions absent, clearly showing the wear and tear that a sustained island hopping campaign against a determined, ruthless foe can have on both man and material. CONDITION: Good overall showing the wear and tear of the island hopping campaign in the Pacific Theater. Significant portions of the fly are absent from the flag leaving a frayed edge, some tears, and some scattered shrapnel/ bullet damage. This striking flag would make a very poignant display piece in a public or private collection as a symbol of the determination of the men of the 77th Infantry Division to bring the war in the Pacific to an end. Provenance: The Saloga Collection. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3411
Two World War II U.S 48-Star Flags Flown on USS Charles Lawrence DE-53 - Included in this lot are two flags attributed
as flown on USS Charles Lawrence DE-53 during World War II. The USS Charles Lawrence was laid down in Massachusetts in 1942 and commissioned in 1943 as the second ship of the Buckley Class of destroyer-escorts, being named after Ordnanceman Charles Lawrence who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The ship initially took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, first escorting tankers from Virginia to Casablanca, and then high speed tanker convoys from New York to Northern Ireland. Charles Lawrence escorted eight of the convoys to Northern Ireland, losing only one tanker in the process. In October of 1944, the ship was converted to a high speed transport with the hull number APD-37 and transferred to the Pacific Theater in January of 1945, before taking part in the invasion of Okinawa in April of 1945. The ship was decommissioned in 1946 and kept in reserve until 1963, when she was sold for scrap. The first of the two flags included in this lot; a size 4, 48-star U.S. flag that measures approximately 32 x 48 inches, while the other flag is a 48-star U.S. maritime/ union jack that is size 7 and measures approximately 32 x 48 inches. Both flags have four metal grommets on the mounting edge. Included documents indicate that these flags were acquired from World War II naval veteran Frank S. Danicek, who received them from his friend and former shipmate Bernard “Red” Wade. A history of the ship typed by “Red” Wade, other printed information, and a photograph print are also included. CONDITION: Both are fine with the U.S. national flag showing a tattered fly edge, typical of a flag used at sea, while the jack shows minimal wear overall. These historic World War II items would make excellent display pieces in your U.S. Military collection! Provenance: The Saloga Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500