Admiral Absent Signal - USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Admiral Absent Signal - USS Enterprise (CV-6)
The tag attached to this small wool signal flag identifies it as an "Admiral's Absence Pennant." This must be a ship specific signal. What the U.S. Navy refers to as "Other Personal Flags". These generally fall under the purview of command, as commanding officers of flotillas, divisions, task forces and fleets are often accorded wide latitude in such matters so long as they do not contravene U.S. Navy Regulations.

This plain flag is recorded as having flown from the yardarm of USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the absence, from that aircraft carrier, of an admiral. Sadly the name and grade of that flag officer was not recorded, but this must have been a practice unique to the Enterprise, as the more traditional signal hoist used to indicate the absence of a flag officer is to hoist the First substitute Pennant, or "First Sub" which when displayed alone signifies, "Absence of flag officer or unit commander, (Inport)."

Quartermaster 3rd Class Ernst B. Turp acquired this "Admiral's Absence Pennant"
during his service aboard the Enterprise and retained it as a memento of service. The flag, called a "pennant" is unmarked and most likely made aboard the Enterprise. Additionally the flag is stripped of its hoisting hardware. Its removal was likely done when Turp left the ship, it being retained by the signalman aboard the Enterprise for future use, a common naval practice. Since Turp was a Boatswain and doubtless familiar with the deck operations of the Enterprise there is no reason to doubt the veracity of his identification, even though it does not comply with traditional hoists.

The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the seventh U.S. Navy vessel to bear that distinguished name. Lovingly nicknamed "The Big E" she was the only aircraft carrier to fight and survive throughout the Second World War. She was engaged in every major battle save one, earning a total of 20 battle stars, the most highly decorated ship of WWII. From October to December 1942 she was the only carrier operating in the Pacific against the Japanese Navy and was thus their primary target.

Incredibly there are very few documented surviving USS Enterprise flags, ensigns & pennants. One huge ensign survives from her 1938 shakedown cruise. Another is in the Pensacola, Florida National Museum of Naval Aviation while one other, like this example were preserved by crewmen.

This "pennant" was accompanied by other Enterprise artifacts; a #10 ensign (ZFC3843) ; a MK 2 USN Utility Knife & Sheath (ZFC3847 & 3848 ) and a USS Enterprise ashtray (ZFC3845) and his USN Liberty Card. (ZFC3865 ).

Provenance:

• USS Enterprise, 1944 - 1945.
• USN Quartermaster 3c Ernest B. Turp, 1945.
• Retained by QM3c Turp as a memento of service until, 1990s.
• 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:

---

USS Enterprise, Wikipedia, 9 April 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CV-6%29
Remembering Enterprise, USS Enterprise CV-6, The Most Decorated Ship of the Second World War, USS Enterprise Association, 9 April 2013, from: http://www.cv6.org/remember/default.htm
USS Enterprise, Naval History and Heritage Command, 9 April 2013, from: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/cv6.htm

Flag Sizes, Naval History and Heritage Command, 9 April 2013, from: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq129-1.htm

Rules for the Display of Personal Flags in the Navy, Flag Officers of the U.S. Navy, Sea Flags, 9 April 2013, from: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaflags/personal/fo.html#rules
Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) archives.


Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
Bonhams

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	35.5
Length of Fly	39

Stripes
Size of Hoist	1.5

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Plain white wool

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Header intact, but rope and attachments have been removed.
Method of Attachment	None

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	Good
Damage	Used, worn, mothed, stained
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1945