US Submarine "Ace" R. Adm. Chester C. Smith flag

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Flag - Chester Carl Smith - Submarine Ace.
This large size # 6, blue woolen flag with two white vertically-centered five-pointed stars, was used by Carl Chester Smith at the close of WWII. Smith was an able U.S. Naval officer who rose in grade from Lt. Commander to Rear Admiral between 1941 to 1945.

Admiral Smith (1905-1976) was a 1925 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and submariner; a skipper of the USS Swordfish (SS-193) attached to Submarine Division 22 of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet which was headquartered in the Philippine Islands at the beginning of WWII. As the commanding officer of the Swordfish then Lt. Commander Smith put to sea on his first war patrol on 8 December 1941, thus commencing a distinguished record of service in WWII.

Smith's boat sank their first enemy ship on 14 December 1941 and damaged another on that same day. His next victory was on the 16th of December and he concluded his 1st war patrol by transporting the command staff for submarines in the Asiatic Fleet from Manila to Soerabaja, Java, in the Netherlands East Indies.

A sortie into the Celebes Sea and Philippine waters commenced the second war patrol for the Swordfish. Leaving Soerabaja on 16 January 1942, Smith's success continued and, by 19 February 1942, under his command and aggressive leadership the Swordfish was credited with 8 enemy vessels sunk.

Next he evacuated the President of the Philippines Manuel Luis Quezon and his family from the fortress island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands. After safely transferring the Quezon party for eventual transportation to Australia, Smith returned to Manila Bay to evacuate Francis Sayre - the U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines and personal representative of the U.S. President to the Philippines. Commander Smith and the Swordfish ended his 2nd war patrol at Fremantle in Australia on 9 March 1942. For, " leadership, and the courageous, aggressive spirit of his command" Lt. Commander Smith war awarded the Navy Cross, the 2nd highest US Naval award for valor.

His third (1 April to 1 May 1942) and fourth (15 May to 4 July 1942) war patrols were equally successful, with another return to Manila Bay and additional sinkings of enemy vessels. For these patrols Lt. Cdr. Smith was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest award for valor.
Aptly decorated, Chester Carl Smith became one of America's early "Submarine Aces" in the early, dark days of WWII when the nation sorely needed heroes.

He was eventually promoted to captain and commanded submarine division Sixty One until 14 March 1944. For his successes in destroying in excess of 250,000 tons of enemy shipping, Captain Smith was awarded the Legion of Merit, an award created during WWII for: "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements."

His next command was Submarine Squadron Thirty and he subsequently ended his career as Chief of Staff to the Commander of Submarines in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. After his promotion to Read Admiral, used this Personal Flag of a Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy. In 1862, the United States Navy had authorized the grade of Rear Admiral. In 1865, Personal Flags bearing the number of stars corresponding to their insignia were authorized to indicate the presence of a Rear Admiral on a flagship or shore installation. After issue, such flags became the personal property of the flag officer.

Provenance:
* Admiral Chester C. Smith until passing, 1976.
* By descent in the Smith family.
* Acquired by purchase by The War Museum of New York City, 1990s
* Sold via Bonham's of New York City, NY to Zaricor Flag Collection, 2013.

Sources:

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Valor awards for Chester Carl Smith, Military Times Hall of Valor, 25 February 32103, from: http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=20949

Flag Officers of the United States Navy, Sea Flags, 1 October 2011, from: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaflags/personal/fo.html

United States Navy, Broad Pennants & Rank Flags, 1800-1940, War Flags Through the Ages & Around the World, 1 October 2011, from:
http://tmg110.tripod.com/usn3.htm

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS by USNA Class Year, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear.html

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS: Division Commanders, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subdivisioncommanders.html

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS: Squadron Commanders, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subsquadcommanders.html

USS Swordfish (SS-193), Wikipedia, 13 April 2013, from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Swordfish_(SS-193)

NTP 13 (B), NAVAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES FLAGS, PENNANTS & CUSTOMS, 13 April 2013, from:
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/navycni/groups/public/documents/document/cnicd_a076937.pdf

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	44.5
Length of Fly	60.5

Stars
Size of Stars	10

Stripes
Size of Hoist	1.5

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Stars
Number of Stars	2
How are the stars embeded?	Double Applique
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes
Comments on Stars	Two stars centered vertically
Star Pattern	1 over 1 centered vertically
Star Field Design	Rectilinear - Vertical

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool

Stitching
Stitching	Machine

Thread
Type of Thread	Needs Analysis
Thread Material	Needs Analysis

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Four white metal war-time grommkets
Method of Attachment	Headings & Grommets

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Excellent
Damage	Used, slightly mothed
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1944-1945