Dec. 2023 Militaria & Collectibles Auction
Lot 441:
Description
Documented WWII flag of the US Navy Amphibious Force Command Ship USS El Dorado (AGC-11), the command ship for the Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. From this ship, top commanders issues orders for the sea and land for each battle. Notable individuals aboard the ships during these campaigns were Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, Admirals Chester Nimitz, William Halsey, Raymond Spruance, USMC General Holland Smith, General Simon Buckner, and war correspondent Ernie Pyle. This 4×6, 48 star flag with writing on the side was from the former Dr. Clarence Rungee Flag Collection and comes with a Flag Heritage Foundation tracking record paper. Dr. Clarence Rungee was born in New Haven, CT and was a veteran of WWI. Following his wartime service, he served as the National Surgeon of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was the National Historian of the Veterans of World War I. From the 1940’s until his death in 1971, Dr. Rungee amassed a collection of over 600 worldwide flags for his International War Flag Museum. Dr. Rungee did not seek out any ordinary flag, as he specifically wanted those with a notable story or which were flown during a war. Accompanying many of the flags are original transmittal letters or copied records from the various sources adding documented provenance to their historical significance. This flag bears the "807" number tag that corresponds to the inventory sheet. Following his death, the flags were donated to the Flag Heritage Foundation, where they remained until being deaccessioned to a single collection, largely untouched until now. Of note, Dr., Rungee befriended Admiral Nimitz, who ordered that rather than destroy Naval flown flags, the Navy should send them to Dr. Rungee for his museum. Rare opportunity to own a flag that flew over the command ship during two of the largest WWII Pacific Campaign battles.
Condition: See Description for Condition Report.
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