Original Item: Only One Available. The ensign of the United States is the flag of the United States when worn as an ensign (a type of maritime flag identifying nationality, usually flown from the stern of a ship or boat, or from an installation or facility of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard or the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration ashore). International maritime law—see International Treaty on Law of the Sea, articles 91 and 92—provides that vessels have a "national character" and thus should display a flag (ensign) that corresponds to this national character, especially when in international or foreign waters. Vessels that are formally documented under the federal vessel documentation act, vessels owned by government bodies in the United States, and vessels in the U.S. military unquestionably have U.S. national character, and thus properly hoist a U.S. ensign to show their national character. Vessels that are numbered by the states (see 46 USC section 411) and small, non-registered craft owned by U.S. citizens and not registered in other countries may also hoist a U.S. ensign to show their national character.

This is a service used World War Two Era 48 Star American Flag, in a large but displayable 42" x 81". The flag body is of multi-piece wool construction, with the stars dyed on, with a sturdy 2 inch canvas bunting header. It has 4 evenly spaced brass grommets for hoist purposes. The header is marked as being a No 9 and maker marked with MI 44. This would be for Ensign Number 9, Mare Island 1944.

The NO. 9 type flag type is historically documented as being issued and flown on landing crafts including LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) and LCT (Landing Ship Tank). The NO. 9 marked flag is one of the most sought after MI number (No.) marks by collectors. The two main Iwo Jima flags were a #11 and later a #7, both made at Mare Island.

The Mare Island Naval Station in San Francisco Bay was home to what was known as the Pacific Fleet, however, their flags were used throughout all theaters during WWII. Mare Island is highly recognized for providing flags for all of the amphibious assault craft and ships in 1944 for the Normandy landings which were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France (and later western Europe) and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first naval base on the west coast of the United States. It is 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, near Vallejo, California. During WWII the base was used for ship building and repair. There were 46,000 workers employed there during the war. It comprised over 900 buildings, and the base closed in 1996. The flag loft employed 500 workers, 400 women doing their part by working 8 hours a day 6 days a week.

This is a wonderful flag in great condition! Comes more than ready for further research and display.