48 Star U.S. Ensign, "Battle of the Atlantic", undisclosed ship N. Atlantic Campaign, 1942.
This large and well used wool 48 star US ensign was worn by a US vessel during the Battle of the Atlantic. In the early period of America's involvement in WWII, 1942 was a critical year. The war against German submarines in the North Atlantic was not going well. The reference by Capt. R.C. Sanders, the Head of the Supplies Department at Navy Yard New York, of "an undisclosed vessel" reflects the tight secrecy on the movement of military and merchant vessels supplying Great Britain through the North Atlantic route.
This ensign was formerly part of the collection of Wall Street financier, businessman and promoter of Anglo-American goodwill Calvin Bullock. His 1 Wall street offices in New York City contained the world leading collections of memorabilia pertaining to Napoleon & Lord Nelson. In the 1930's he sought to collect Confederate Flags and during World War II he acquired an important collection of US, British, French and other allied ensigns from his many international and important military and naval acquaintances. After his death in 1944 his son, Hugh Bullock kept the flags on display as a memorial to his late father.
Calvin Bullock doubtless requested the flag for his collection from Admiral Clark Howell Woodward, the simultaneous Commandant of both the Third Naval District and Navy Yard New York, the last admiral to hold such a command. It may never be known what vessel this ensign derived, but it was certainly one of the US naval escort vessels of the North Atlantic under wartime conditions. Given the official source of the flag, from Admiral Woodward to Capt. Sanders to Calvin Bullock, it was an early and prized WWII flag in the Bullock collection.
The Bullock documentation accompanying the flag states: "From 'an undisclosed vessel, operating in North Atlantic waters. (Sent to Mr. CB by Capt. R.C. Sanders, Brooklyn Navy Yard, at request of Admiral C.H. Woodward (Ret.), Aug. 10, 1942.)" The documentation goes on to state the flag hung "IN LECTURE ROOM West Wall: Large Stars and Stripes clockwise from S.W. door" it was the first flag.
Exhibition History:
1 Wall Street, New York City, the West Wall of Calvin Bullock's Conference Room.
Provenance:
• Undisclosed U.S vessel from the North Atlantic Campaign, 1942.
• Acquired by Capt. R.C. Sanders, Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1942.
• Presented to Calvin Bullock, New York, New York, 10 Aug. 1942.
• Calvin Bullock Collection, until passing, June 1944.
• By bequest to Hugh Bullock, until passing. 1966.
• By descent in Bullock family to daughter of Hugh Bullock, until 1997
• Purchased for the Zaricor Flag Collection by private treaty from the estate of Calvin Bullock, New York City, 1997.
ZFC Significant Flag
Sources:
Battle of the Atlantic, Wikipedia, 18 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Atlantic_%281939%E2%80%931945%29
Clark Howell Woodward, Arlington National Cemetery Website, 18 October 2011, from: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/chwoodward.htm
United States Navy Yard, New York, Wikipedia, 18 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Navy_Yard
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
