U.S. 48 Star Flag - USS Macon
This cotton 48-star U.S. flag was made outside governmental and commercial supply channels. The physical characteristics of this flag set it apart from other 48-star flags created from 1912-1959. This flag is unusual due to the arrangement of the stars in the canton. It was typical for 48-star flags to utilize a rectilinear star field of six horizontal rows with eight stars. This flag, however, uses a 'staggering' technique that justifies the horizontal rows of stars alternatively towards the hoist or fly. This flag arranges the star field into eight rows of six stars, a departure from the standard six rows of eight. The flag is finished with four buttonholes along the hoist edge. This particular flag was made of cotton fabric with a single needle sewing machine.
This flag was created aboard the USS Macon, a Baltimore class U.S. Navy ship that had been commissioned shortly before the surrender of Japan on August 26th 1945. This particular shipboard-made flag was retained as a memento for the service of Seaman 2nd Class, Nicolas Polifko who was a "plank owner" aboard the Macon. Plank owners are crewmen that serve on a commissioned vessel and claim ownership of one of the 'planks' on deck. (See ZFC 2055, 3390, 3392, 3393, 3394 and 3844).
This personal flag is significant due to the unique canton. This is the only known shipboard-made naval flag to employ the rare eight-rows-of-six star pattern.
Exhibition History:
This flag was presented to the audience during the 6th Annual Flag Symposium sponsored by The Flag House and Star Spangled Banner Museum, in Baltimore, MD, 9 April 2005. The presentation entitled, "The Other 48s a look at the evolution of the 48 star US Flag and the various star patterns it engendered." was made by Howard Madaus, Chief Curator of the Zaricor Flag Collection.
Provenance:
• Purportedly made aboard the USS Macon, 1945 - 1946.
• Retained by Seaman 2nd Class Nicholas Polifko and retained as a memento of service, until 2004.
• Sold via James D. Julia Auctions, Fairfield, ME to Zaricor Flag Collection, 2004.
Sources:
USS MACON (CA 132), NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive, 20 June 2013, from: http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/132/04132.htm
Macon, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command, 20 June 2013, from: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m1/macon.htm
USS Macon (CA-132), Wikipedia, 20 June 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Macon_%28CA-132%29
Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) Archives, 2013.
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
