A full Admiral's flag dating from the Vietnam War Era.
This small nylon, Size #7, flag with four white five-point stars arranged in a diamond pattern of 1-2-1 indicates the presence of an Admiral in the United States Navy. The fabric, light weight oxford weave nylon, is consistent with the type of nylon prescribed by the US Navy during the eras of the Vietnam War, when the US Navy used the lighter denier nylon.

A blue flag with the appropriate number of stars was first introduced in 1862, when the United States Navy authorized the grade of Rear Admiral. Personal Flags, bearing the appropriate number of stars corresponding to their insignia, were authorized to indicate the presence of an Admiral on a flagship or a shore installation in 1866 and have been in use continuously since 1876.

Over time, smaller versions of these flags became necessary as a practical matter for display in small boats and on admiral's barges. This small flag is an excellent example of such a flag. Regrettably, the officer who displayed this flag has been lost to history, but the flag is finished with a heading and attached grommets and has small rings attached to itfacilitate quick display and removal.

The first admiral entitled to display such a flag was David Glasgow Farragut when he became the U.S. Navy's first full admiral under an Act of Congress of July 25, 1866.

Provenance: Acquired in 2003 by purchase at Bat Area Militaria Show, Napredak Hall, San Jose, CA

Sources:


NTP 13 (B), NAVAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES FLAGS, PENNANTS & CUSTOMS, WASHINGTON, D.C , NAVAL COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMAND, 1986.
Flag Officers of the United States Navy, Sea Flags, 1 December 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 December 2011, from:
http://tmg110.tripod.com/usn3.htm

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection