I was having trouble identifying the purpose and behind the flag and linen item shown below. These are in the collection of Robert Hile, son of Robert B. Hile, BM3, 1950 – 1954. Full details on BM3 Hile’s time aboard the Calvert was previously published here.
Thank you for everyone’s help in identifying these artifacts!
Per W. Calvert, 2002-10-15: “WW2 era USN Ships Jack. Flown forward on the Bow. 48 stars flew from 1912 to 1953” From Robert B. Hile’s Navy and USS Calvert memorabilia collection.Per W. Calvert, 2002-10-15: “This item is not a flag, it’s got no lanyard holes, is wrong shape for the size to be a flag or pennant. I’ve checked with navy buddies and searched the net. We believe it to be officer / chiefs mess table cloth. The blue pipping is too decorative for general mess based on experience.” From Robert B. Hile’s Navy and USS Calvert memorabilia collection.Answered: “Not of The Line Vice Admiral Flag” and was likely used aboard BM3 Hile’s boat, and not the Calvert itself.
Further explanation regarding Not of the Line for us non-Navy folks: “Those not eligible for command at sea include officers of the staff corps (medical, supply, chaplain, civil engineer, judge advocate general, dental, medical service, and nurse corps) as well as line officers restricted to engineering or special duties are not of the line officers. These flags are never flown aboard ship, but may be flown in boats and are used ashore to designate the headquarters of such entities.”
Thank you Chauncey. Here are some details that may help answer that question. Sadly I am fairly ignorant and uninformed regarding Naval ranks not having served in the Navy myself and being a lifelong landlubber. However, the Calvert was flagship, at least at times, during the early 1950s.
March 1951: “The convoy was designated Transport Division 13 of Task Force 90. APA-32 became flagship of TransDiv 13. Skipper of the 32 was Capt Hurd. Capt Hurd became Commodore Hurd, TransDiv Commander. The Navy hasn’t a one-star Admiral. Being wartime, the senior Captain becomes Commodore. So the Calvert flew a one-star Blue flag indicating she was flagship of Div 13. Since navy doesn’t have one-star admirals as the army has generals, the senior convoy commander becomes a Commodore one-star.”
June 1951: “From 23 to 27 June the Commander of Transport Division 12 (CTG 90.2), aboard his flagship, the Calvert (APA-32), conducted the afloat phase of the training. Troops of the 160th and 223d RCTs were embarked at Shiogama, near the Japanese city of Sendai, and landed at Chigasaki Beach.”
August 1954: “As part of Task Force 90, the Calvert along with approximately fifty other amphibious naval vessels, were given the job of transporting personnel, equipment, and vehicles from North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam, DRV) to South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam, RVN).Rear Admiral Lorenzo S. Sabin and his staff commanded the operation from the USS Estes (AGC-12). The Calvert was assigned to Transport Unit ABLE, 90.2.1, with Captain W.C. Winn in command of the unit (also commander, ComTransDiv 13), also aboard the Calvert (as Flagship for ComTransDiv 13). Other ships of TU 90.2.1 included the Magoffin, Telfair, Montrose, Andromeda, Skagit. Although a unit of organization, most ships steamed independently during the operation.” I do believe Sabin visited the Calvert at least on one occasion during Passage to Freedom.
October 1954: “On 1 October 1954, the Pacific Fleet’s Amphibious Force was reorganized. This resulted in the disestablishment of Transdiv Thirteen and The Establishment of Amphibious Squadron Five (PHIBRON 5) , of which the Calvert was deisgnated flagship.”
So maybe one of these points to the likelihood of the flag being flown aboard the Calvert, if even only for a short-time.
Thank you! Based on your suggestion I did some more web searching and found that the three star flag is a “Not of The Line Vice Admiral Flag” and was likely used aboard BM3 Hile’s boat, and not the Calvert itself.
Further explanation: “Those not eligible for command at sea include officers of the staff corps (medical, supply, chaplain, civil engineer, judge advocate general, dental, medical service, and nurse corps) as well as line officers restricted to engineering or special duties are not of the line officers. These flags are never flown aboard ship, but may be flown in boats and are used ashore to designate the headquarters of such entities.”
Was this an Admirals flag ship a one time? If so I would think that the three star pennant was the rank of the Admiral. Just a guess.
Thank you Chauncey. Here are some details that may help answer that question. Sadly I am fairly ignorant and uninformed regarding Naval ranks not having served in the Navy myself and being a lifelong landlubber. However, the Calvert was flagship, at least at times, during the early 1950s.
March 1951: “The convoy was designated Transport Division 13 of Task Force 90. APA-32 became flagship of TransDiv 13. Skipper of the 32 was Capt Hurd. Capt Hurd became Commodore Hurd, TransDiv Commander. The Navy hasn’t a one-star Admiral. Being wartime, the senior Captain becomes Commodore. So the Calvert flew a one-star Blue flag indicating she was flagship of Div 13. Since navy doesn’t have one-star admirals as the army has generals, the senior convoy commander becomes a Commodore one-star.”
June 1951: “From 23 to 27 June the Commander of Transport Division 12 (CTG 90.2), aboard his flagship, the Calvert (APA-32), conducted the afloat phase of the training. Troops of the 160th and 223d RCTs were embarked at Shiogama, near the Japanese city of Sendai, and landed at Chigasaki Beach.”
August 1954: “As part of Task Force 90, the Calvert along with approximately fifty other amphibious naval vessels, were given the job of transporting personnel, equipment, and vehicles from North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam, DRV) to South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam, RVN).Rear Admiral Lorenzo S. Sabin and his staff commanded the operation from the USS Estes (AGC-12). The Calvert was assigned to Transport Unit ABLE, 90.2.1, with Captain W.C. Winn in command of the unit (also commander, ComTransDiv 13), also aboard the Calvert (as Flagship for ComTransDiv 13). Other ships of TU 90.2.1 included the Magoffin, Telfair, Montrose, Andromeda, Skagit. Although a unit of organization, most ships steamed independently during the operation.” I do believe Sabin visited the Calvert at least on one occasion during Passage to Freedom.
October 1954: “On 1 October 1954, the Pacific Fleet’s Amphibious Force was reorganized. This resulted in the disestablishment of Transdiv Thirteen and The Establishment of Amphibious Squadron Five (PHIBRON 5) , of which the Calvert was deisgnated flagship.”
So maybe one of these points to the likelihood of the flag being flown aboard the Calvert, if even only for a short-time.
Thanks for the info Chris. A very thorough job you did.
Thank you! Based on your suggestion I did some more web searching and found that the three star flag is a “Not of The Line Vice Admiral Flag” and was likely used aboard BM3 Hile’s boat, and not the Calvert itself.
Further explanation: “Those not eligible for command at sea include officers of the staff corps (medical, supply, chaplain, civil engineer, judge advocate general, dental, medical service, and nurse corps) as well as line officers restricted to engineering or special duties are not of the line officers. These flags are never flown aboard ship, but may be flown in boats and are used ashore to designate the headquarters of such entities.”