SIGNAL FLAG FROM U.S.S. LAFFEY, 'THE SHIP THAT WOULD NOT DIE'

SIGNAL FLAG FROM U.S.S. LAFFEY, 'THE SHIP THAT WOULD NOT DIE'
Black-and-yellow signal flag, 36 x 33.5 in, purportedly from the USS Laffey, renowned during the D-Day invasion and the battle of Okinawa for withstanding the most unrelenting kamikaze air attacks in history. The flag is constructed of black-and-yellow cotton bunting, reinforced on the fly corners with additional fabric, as is common with period signal flags. The piece bears an additional strip of white fabric at the hoist end, with a sewn-in rope bearing a metal ring on one end and a clip on the other. One side of the hoist bears a manufacturing ink stamp with serial numbers, though some of the ink is quite faded, and the other end bears the black ink inscription: 'U.S.S. Laffey...DD724'. Some small tears, most notably towards the hoist, else very good. Sold with two books about the USS Laffey, as well as a black metal sign, 18 x 3 in., bearing the gilt letters: 'ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II SIGNAL FLAG FROM THE DESTROYER USS LAFFEY DD724'. Due to a lack of further provenance, however, the lot is sold as is. The U.S.S. Laffey escorted tugs, landing craft, and two Dutch gunboats off Utah Beach during the D-Day Invasion, On April 17, 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, Laffey miraculously survived four bombs, six kamikaze crashes, and strafing fire that killed or wounded a hundred of her crewmembers.