Capture the Flag

17 Star, 17 Stripe U.S. Ensign, Privateer Blockade, War of 1812 captured by Captain James Clephan, HMS Charybdis This flag is significant for its rarity and symbolic importance. There are no other 17-stars with 17-stripes known U.S. flags to survive.

U.S. 24 Star Pennsylvania Militia color 1822 - 1836 - 6 Point Silver Stars. One of the half dozen oldest flags of Pennsylvania surviving depicting the national flag. Later in the conflict, on April 2, 1865, the 54th Pennsylvania Unit. Volunteers broke through the siege lines around Petersburg, Virginia recaptured this flag.

33 Star U.S. Storm Ensign - 1st U.S. Flag captured in Civil War at Pensacola, & USN officer recapture, January 1861 THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG CAPTURED DURING THE CIVIL WAR. This iconic ghost of an American flag is the earliest documented captured flag from the American Civil War.

U.S, Army Light Artillery Guidon, Sand's 11th Ohio Battery with Battle Honors. A Civil War flag from the Michael Madaus sub-collection of Civil War Military flags. It belonged to the Light Artillery Ohio Battery and was used by Ohio troops in the western theatre of the American Civil War.

13 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag, Captured-Battery Wagner 1863,Capt. Chichester. This flag was captured by Captain Charles E. Chichester, commander of a battery of Confederate artillery that Union troops unsuccessfully attacked on July 11, 1863 (a week before the doomed assault dramatized in the film "Glory").

Confederate States of America 9 Star National Garrison Flag - New Orleans, 1862. Nine Star Confederate Flags are extremely rare, perhaps the rarest of all of the variants of the First National Confederate Flags since they were only official from May 18 to May 21, 1861, a mere four days. Captured by Col. Alexander Warner of the 13th CT. Vol.

Confederate States of America - Bible Flag, 1861-1863. Flags like this small 11 star Confederate Flag are often referred to as bible flags. They were common to both Union and Confederate sides during the American Civil War.

13 Star, Confederate States of America - Lt. Artillery - reverses traditional U.S red over white, with staff, 1863, extremely rare 1 of 2. Captured at Fort Hindman, A very rare swallowtail Confederate guidon with its original blue lanyard. It was originally discovered furled around its staff with its red painted tin "halberd head" finial.

Spanish Colony, Cuban 4th Btn, 2nd Co, Havana Volunteers, extremely rare Cuban Militia Color, 1898 The Cuban Volunteers were troops raised in Cuba after the first war for Cuban independence in 1868. Used against the rebels, they were drawn from Cuba's lower classes and were accused of harsh tactics.

Spanish National Flag, Captured by Col. Victor Duboce 1st California Infantry.Manila, 1898. This flag came from San Miguel, Philippines and was most likely locally made. The size and lack of coat of arms suggest that it may have been homemade for display by a Spanish family to show their patriotism.

A swallow-tailed variant of the Spanish National flag. This flag was part of the collection of the M.H. de Young Museum. The size and lack of coat of arms suggest that it may have been homemade for display by a Spanish family to show their patriotism or for some kind of celebration.

A Relic of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. La Bandera de Mochila was formerly part of the collection of the M.H. de Young Museum. Little is known about its history. It was acquired as a GI bringback during the Spanish American War in the 1890s and probably served as a means for Spanish citizens to express their patriotism.

An interesting relic of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. Little is known about the history of this Flag. It was acquired as a GI bringback during the Spanish American War. The design of the shield is a simplification of the Spanish arms. The castle is for the kingdom of Castile, the lion for Leon.

Battle Flag captured during the Philippine Insurrection in the City of Pasig, 1899. This flag was captured in the city of Pasig, near Manila in the Philippines. During the Spanish-American War it would have been an area of Philippine nationalism and an American serviceman might have acquired such a flag as war booty.

Philippines National Flag - Insurgent variant, Captured in Philippine American War. An early variant of the national flag of the Philippines circa 1898. The red is said to stand for patriotism and valor and the blue for justice, truth, and peace.

Sultanate of Sulu (Moro) Battle Flag, 1899, Captured by Captain Lucien G. Berry. The Insurrectos were fighting for independence, initially from Spain and then ultimately from the U.S. All Moro flags were vernacular. As they were made locally they were generally field expedients and betray the great haste in which most were made.

Chinese Imperial Army, Forbidden City Designating Flag - Boxer Rebellion, 1900, Capture by 14th US Infantry. This pennant was previously represented as a flag associated with the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, or "Boxers." A preliminary translation of the ideograms has led to an alternative conclusion on the flag.

Imperial Germany Pilot's Drop Flag taken by USN Bluejacket from U-124. This World War I German Pilots Flag was formerly part of the collection of the M.H. de Young Museum. It was originally acquired from the German submarine U-124 in 1918 by an American Blue Jacket (sailor). The U-124 surrendered on December 1st, 1918.

Sandinista Rebels HQ Flag, Nicaragua, 1928. This trophy red wool banner bears a single black five point star on the obverse. Red and black were the colors worn by Sandinistas in Nicaragua from 1927 to 1934. The rebellion waged a guerrilla war against the U.S. intervention on the side of the Conservative Party.

China - Republic, National Flag, Patriotic Anti-Communist Youth Movement, Captured by Japanese Troops, 1938 Group #1 of the Federation of Chinese Anti-Communist Patriotic Youth Leagues used this flag. The Chinese inscription along the hoist (roughly translated as, "We the Opposing Forces, Federation of Patriotic Youth League, The 1st Group"

Imperial Japan, Trophy Flag of the 18th U.S. Navy Construction Battalion, WWII Surviving Japanese flags from WWII are plentiful since almost every Japanese soldier or sailor flew one. What makes this particular flag significant is the "sailor art" painted over the field of the flag detailing the wartime services of Louis Mauriello.

Imperial Japan National Flag, 1942-1945, taken by 2nd US Marine Air Wing. This Japanese flag was acquired by members of the USMC 2nd Air Wing who defaced it with their battle honors, their distinctive unit insignia, a drawing of a Japanese fighter plane giving off smoke, and a caricature of a another about to be bombed.

Captured National Flag of Japan, 24th Div., 19th Inf. This captured, silk, Japanese national flag was defaced by American soldiers from the 19th Infantry while serving with the 24th Division during the post war occupation of Japan, likely kept and altered as such as a memento of service.

Imperial Japan, Trophy Flag, USS Revenge, 1st US Ship into Tokyo Bay, WWII This flag was acquired by crewmen of the USS Revenge who inscribed upon the flags rays in romaji a list of the ports-of-call in the Pacific and along the coasts of Japan, "Tokyo August 27, 1945 First United States Mine Sweeper in Japan.

Imperial Japan, National Trophy flag taken by U.S. 82nd Signal Battalion. This Japanese ensign is a war trophy from WWII. Surviving WWII Japanese flags are plentiful since almost every Japanese soldier or sailor had them. These "hinomaru yosegaki "or Good Luck Flags were a prized trophy for U.S. soldiers, sailors and marines.

Japanese National Flag - General William Hesketh. This silk Japanese flag was acquired as a war trophy flag by Brigadier General William Hesketh (1895 - 1986) during his WWII career. British born Hesketh was one of only 26 foreign born General Officers in the United States Army during WWII.

Germany 3rd Reich, Mannerchor Minfeld Choral Society, GI Capture with unit signatures.This is not a military or a national flag, but rather the flag of men's singing group formed in Minfeld, Pfalz in 1934. Minefeld was taken by element of the 14th Armored Division, "The Liberators" in the spring of 1945.

Germany 3rd Reich National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) Banner, 1933-1945. This is a large cotton "Nazi" Party banner from Germany during the reign of Hitler's 3rd Reich. Their use became ubiquitous, and they could be seen at party rallies, parades and gatherings.

Germany 3rd Reich, War Flag, German HQ in Bayeux, Normandy capture, former Bullock Collection.This German war flag was taken from the German headquarters in Bayeux, France by the British 56th Infantry Brigade on 7 June 1945. The flag was conveyed to Royal Navy Commander Anthony Kimmins who brought it with him to the United States.

WWII German Banner captured from the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) in Nantes on October of 1941. This German Banner grabbed from the Hotel de Ville in 1941 is associated with two items from the Nazis occupation of France in WWII. The flag went from being a symbol of shame to a symbol of pride as it was later used for small meetings of activis

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) National Flag - Korean War The now defunct Soldiers' Museum of Davenport, Iowa, reported that this flag was a GI "Bring Back" from a veteran who served in both WWII and Korea.

National flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The single yellow-colored five-pointed star that features on a red field has always been the pattern on the flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It was originally adopted at the end of November 1955 soon after the partition of Vietnam when the Indo-China War finished.

Vietnam People's Liberation Army Color, Captured by Co. B, 187th RCT, 101st Airborne. This flag was made in anticipation of a successful "liberation" of Saigon and was taken by counter forces. The flag, from the Tet offensive, was kept as a trophy by Corporal William Street.

Viet Cong 307th Battalion of the 273rd Regiment. This fringed cotton Vietcong Battalion color is embroidered with the unit number "307" and the Vietnamese slogan "Quyet Thang" or "Resolved to Win." The flag is a war trophy taken in combat from the Viet Cong.

Viet Cong Battle Flag This is a genuine Viet Cong battle flag that was captured on the 27th of November 1967 at Thanh Phu Island, Kien Hoa Province, in the Republic of Vietnam. The area was a hotbed of guerilla activity throughout the Vietnam War. The flag was originally taken by the 3/3/12th and donated to the US Army Ranger Museum of NYC

Vietnam Viet Cong DMZ - Quang Tre Flag This Viet Cong battle flag is made from cotton and it was captured from a Viet Cong patrol, on the 1st of February, 1970 by Corporal Richard "Richie" Bennett, just south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Vietnam - Viet Cong National Flag. Little is known about the history of this Viet Cong flag. It was acquired, with no additional provenance, as a GI bringback from JS Military surplus at Moss Landing, California, in the 1970s.

Iraq National Flag - 1963 to 1991. This Iraqi national flag is a war trophy from the Persian Gulf War. The red, white, green and black colors derive from the flag of the Kingdom of Iraq, which had been based on the 1916 Arab Liberation flag.

Taliban Artillery Regimental H.Q. Color, taken Nov. 2001, Jalalabad, Afghanistan. This Taliban flag was recovered from the rubble of what is believed to be the regimental commander's office of the headquarters of the Taliban Army in Jalabad, Afghanistan. It was recovered in November 2001 by independent film maker Jim Burroughs.

Iraq National Flag. This Iraqi flag, along with a cache of valuable intelligence paperwork, and Iraqi Army equipment was captured in the summer of 2003 from a Ba'ath Party Headquarters building in the Al Amel district of Baghdad, by Company B, 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Iraq National Flag, 1991-2004. This Iraqi flag, along with a cache of valuable intelligence paperwork, and Iraqi Army equipment was captured in the summer of 2003 from a Ba'ath Party Headquarters building in the Al Amel district of Baghdad, by Company B, 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.