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LOT 3307
Two Large Historic American Flags from World War II Landing Ship, Tank USS LST-325 That Took Part in Both the Invasions of Sicily
and Normandy - This desirable grouping includes two large 48-star American flags that were flown on the World War II U.S. landing craft, USS LST-325. LST-325 was one of approximately 900 “Landing Craft, Tank” ships built during the war, and played a pivotal roll in amphibious and supply operations. The LST was intended to be an ocean going vessel that could carry large amounts of troops, vehicles, equipment, and smaller landing craft, as well as be capable of landing all of those things straight onto
the beach itself. Though many may not consider these transport ships
as glamorous as the warships of the period, they were no less important to the war effort, and no less dangerous to be stationed on. Due to their slow speed and relatively minimal defenses, LSTs were often nicknamed “Large Slow Target” or “Last Ship (to) Tokyo”. During the course of the war, a total of 1,051 LST’s were produced, with 26 lost to enemy action and
13 lost to weather, reefs, or accidents. LST-325 was launched in October 1942 and commissioned in February 1943, before leaving in March of
210 1943 for Algeria and operations in the Mediterranean. The ship supported
Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily through the summer of 1943. In
the fall of 1943 while supporting the Allied invasion of Salerno, LST-325 was attacked by German aircraft multiple times which wounded at least eight crew members. In November of 1943, LST-325 joined a large convoy headed to England. The convoy was attacked and had multiple troop transports sunk, with one passenger aboard LST-325 being wounded by shrapnel. Upon reaching England, LST-325 began training for supporting Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion at Normandy. On 5 June 1944, LST-325 departed England carrying members of the 5th Special Engineer Brigade as part of “Force B” landing on Omaha Beach, disembarking their payload on 7 June. Between June 1944 and April 1945, LST-325 made 43 round trips between England and France, carrying fresh troops, vehicles, and supplies one way, while carrying prisoners and wounded Allied troops the other. In December of 1944, LST-325 managed to rescue around 700 men from the troop ship SS Empire Javelin which had been torpedoed
by a German U-boat off the coast of France, an action which earned the LST’s commander, Lt. Comdr. Mosier, the bronze star. After the war, LST- 325 was transferred to the Greek navy until 1999 when it was acquired by an American memorial foundation, restored, and returned to the United
States where it is now moored as a ship museum in Evansville, Indiana, where many of these LST’s were built. Both of the flags are of the correct 48-star pattern and are stamped “LST 325” on the headers in ink, the headers having metal grommets for hoisting. One of the flags measures approximately 45 x 66 inches and the other measures approximately 58 x 91 inches. The larger of the two is also marked “43 TRIPS” and “721 FROM JAVALIN”, a reference to LST-325’s trips between England and France as well as their rescue effort. Also included with the grouping is a copy of the book “LST 325 Workhorse of the Waves & Evansville’s War Machine” as well as additional documentation about the ship and a vexillological inventory form for each flag from the Flag Heritage Foundation.
CONDITION: Both of the flags are fine showing the mild wear and staining of wartime use, some stains a darker red color with the appearance of blood. The book is very fine with minimal wear. These flags were present at some of the largest amphibious operations of World War II and would make a fantastic addition to any U.S. military collection!
Provenance: The Saloga Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 10,000