{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-usgi-bring-back-signed-tank-identification-flag-38-x-46","title":"Original German WWII USGI Bring Back Signed Tank Identification Flag - 38\" x 46\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-kind. This an excellent unissued condition cotton multi-piece construction German WWII Panzer tank identification flag. It measures approximately 38\"H x 46\"W, and has the standard NSDAP \u003cem\u003eSwas\u003c\/em\u003e (Hook Cross or Swas) dyed onto a circular white field. This was then sewn onto the red body of the flag. There is some light staining and a few small tears, but overall the flag is a great example of this type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe highlight of this flag though are the many USGI's who signed their names to the white field on the flag, along with some phrases:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMarvin Hupp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTedE. Paul\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGENE MURPHY\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn Sparrow\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJESSE - C - BEAM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePARFAIT\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eARLEN BRADEN\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHOWARD C. JARRELL\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGuy Whiting\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEdward Martin\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWaldo Contardi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrank Sheridan\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJames Dresback\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRichard Blane\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDONALD MAPLES\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhil \"Johnson\" Ghen (sp?)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJIMMY WALKER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Pretty Boy\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJ. CAMP\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany of these names are relatively common, so we have not been able to find much, except for potentially two of these men:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Marvin Thomas Hupp was born 24 Jul 1923 in Illinois, and passed away 9 Jun 1996, also in Illinois. His gravestone can be seen here, noting his WWII service: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.findagrave.com\/memorial\/183189471\/marvin-thomas-hupp\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Marvin Thomas Hupp Grave Information\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eMarvin Thomas Hupp Find A Grave\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Waldo Contardi was born October 30, 1916 and passed away December 1964 at 48 years of age in the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientfaces.com\/person\/waldo-contardi-birth-1916-death-1964\/54261104\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eWaldo Contardi (1916 - 1964).\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have not been able to identify which unit these men were in, and leave it as an excellent research project.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis cotton flag features multi-piece construction and is single sided with grommets located in each corner. These grommets were secured to tension lines that secured the flag to the back of the tank laying flat. Thereby the flag was only visible to persons located above the tank. Generally these flags were intended to be seen by German airplanes so as not to be struck by friendly fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost German tanks were destroyed during combat, so very few of these flags remained at the end of the war and most known examples were taken directly removed from tanks by USGIs in the field. This example definitely was, and then signed as a memento. A great piece of militaria!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31937084653637,"sku":"ONSV8548","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV8548__02.jpg?v=1604706440","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-usgi-bring-back-signed-tank-identification-flag-38-x-46","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}