U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Auto & Miniature Flag - John Jennings Ballentine.
This small, blue woolen Auto & Miniature flag with two white five-pointed stars arranged vertically and finished with a sleeve and ties was used by John Jennings Ballentine, during WWII, who was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Admiral Ballentine (1896-1970), was a 1908 graduate of the US Naval Academy and a Naval Aviator, who, as a captain, commanded the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in battle; actions for which he was twice decorated.

After his promotion to Rear Admiral, he doubtless used this flag either on a bow staff affixed small boats, or on his official automobile while he served as Commander, Fleet Air, Seattle; Commander, Carrier Division Seven; and finally as United States as Liaison Officer between the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Forces for the Occupation of Japan.

In 1862 the United States Navy authorized the grade of Rear Admiral. Personal Flags, bearing the number of stars corresponding to their insignia were authorized to indicate their presence on a flagship or shore installation in 1865. Smaller versions of these flags became necessary as a practical matter and this small flag is an excellent example.

Exhibition History:
Unknown as part of the Parke West Collection.

Provenance:Acquired at auction, Alderfer Auctions, Hatfield, PA, 9 September 2009.

ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:


John Jennings Ballentine, Find A Grave Memorial, 1 October 2011, from: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7969085

John Jennings Ballentine, Military Times Hall of Valor, 1 October 2011, from: http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=55218

Carrier Division Seven, USS Enterprise CV-6, 1 October 2011, from: http://www.cv6.0rg/ship/logs/cardiv7_2.htm

Op Cit. Military Times Hall of Valor.

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

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection