U.S. Maritime Commission, 1936 to 1950
This worn dark blue wool flag is that of the United States Maritime Commission. The United States Maritime Commission was formed in 1936 to replace the WWI era agency the United States Shipping Board. The Maritime Commission was given with a wide range of responsibilities, among them were:
- Create a shipbuilding program to handle all U.S. waterborne commerce, the centerpiece of which was to design and build, in 10 years, over 500 modern U.S. flagged cargo ships.
- Serve as a uniformed naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency.
- Administer a subsidy system which would offset the cost differentials of both building in the U.S. and operating ships under the American flag
- Form the U.S. Maritime Service to provide training for officers and crewmembers on merchant ships that form the United States Merchant Marine.
- Commission new Merchant Marine officers.
The agency had great success during WWII and under their auspices the U.S. Merchant Marine became one of the largest in the world. They were dissolved in 1950 and the functions of the Maritime Commission were transferred to the United States Maritime Administration, originally under the U.S. Department of Commerce and presently under the U.S. Transportation Department.
The flags of the U.S. Maritime commission were used in a variety of ways. This flag is finished for outdoor use and would, between 1936 and 1950, most likely have been seen on U.S. Maritime Commission vessels as a house flag or to the identify buildings and offices of the commission.
Given the short period of the flag's use, it is most likely the flag was used in WWII as the greatest number would have been made during the war. The Flags used after the period of 1945 to 1950 would have been likely from Surplus Stores made during WWII. It is rare to see this flag today as very few have survived. This is likely due to it not being a National Color (stars and stripes). Most met their end being destroyed after the period of the Maritime Commerce ceased to exist. As mentioned this flag is considered very rare and designed and manufactured to a high standard leading one to summarize it's use might have been for a high official of the commission.
Provenance:
Purchased by Zaricor Flag Collection, J&S Military Surplus, Moss Landing, CA, 1990s.
Sources:
Merchant Marine Act, 1936, American Merchant Marine at War, 19 June 2013, from: http://www.usmm.org/mmact1936.html
United States Maritime Commission, Wikipedia, 19 June 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Maritime_Commission
A Short History of the Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 19 June 2013, from: http://www.marad.dot.gov/about_us_landing_page/marad_aboutus_history/vessel_short_history/History_Maritime_Administration.htm
Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) Archives, 2013.
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
