Last modified: 2026-04-11 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: ufe | unidentified flags | 2021 |
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Below is a series of images of flags that have been provided to FOTW; some we have recognized, and some we have been unable to recognize. If you can help us identify any of these flags, please let us know! Contact the: UFE Editor.
Identification Key:
= Positive ID (Positive Identification)
= Tentative ID (Tentative Identification)
= Some Speculation Some Speculation
#1a
#1b
Images from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 January 2021
Found these on eBAY, I guess the sellers had no idea what they are.
1) Image #1a is related to Hamburg and denoted by the seller as rowing or sailing club. The "N" might be "Norderelbe", "Niederelbe" or something else.
2) Image #1b shows in the canton an anchor in bend and signal flags, probably "AGWR", not very likely "AGWX"".
Can anybody help?
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 January 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 January 2021
The flag is blue with a white (or yellow) pentagramma in hoist. The flag was hoisted together with those of many other (German) rowing clubs on the flag pole of WSV Rinteln on occasion of its 50-years anniversary. Maybe it belongs to a foreign rowing club? Can anybody assist?
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 January 2021
Shouldn't it say "red" somewhere? Did you ask them if it belongs to a foreign rowing club?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 18 May 2021
Positive ID
Image from Jim Ferrigan, 19 January 2021
Any thoughts on this flag?
Jim Ferrigan, 19 January 2021
I'm not even sure which way is up... It looks to be a little hour-glass shaped? It did make me think a little of the NYC Police Flag and the speculative Tsakhur People's Flag.
Some similar color and design elements, but they aren't a very close match. Where did you find it if I might ask?
Pete Loeser, 21 January 2021
It was sent to me. It is cotton, 3'x5' and was made by Annin. My thoughts were similar, either NYCPD or a Brazillian state.
Jim Ferrigan, 22 January 2021
Like the FDNY flag which has two versions, the NYPD flag was once used in two variants. When I was 17 or so (way back in the 1960s) I went to NYC at the instigation of my mentor Whitney Smith and researched both the FDNY and NYPD flags. At the time they each had similar patterns, five stripes (R-W-R-W-R for the FDNY and V-W-V-W-V for the NYPD) with a canton (red for FDNY and blue for NYPD). The Fire Department flag bore the FDNY emblem and the Police Department flag bore 24 white five-pointed stars.
They each also had a "pall flag" for use on the coffins of those who died in the line of duty. In each case it was the same stripes with the canton moved to the center of the flag. In the case of the NYPD, the stars were reduced to five representing the five boroughs.
The FDNY still uses this pall flag but the NYPD no longer does. I have no idea when this custom was changed.
I have been unable to find any documentation on this online and my original notes likely went to the FRC, so you'll have to rely on my fading memory.
Dave Martucci, 16 May 2021
Although I suspect you are absolutely correct, I have one little nagging question. If the flag is only 3'x5' as reported, that makes it a drape for a very small coffin.
Pete Loeser, 16 May 2021
I saw the size but clearly recall the flag. Likely Annin had both in their catalog at some point and maybe offered them in different sizes. I note the stars on this example are oriented as a flag, not as a banner which I would think would be more likely. May have to look into this more at some point.
Dave Martucci, 16 May 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Bob Nawrocki, 19 January 2021
I am the librarian at the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library and the Society recently received an unidentified painting of a ship with three flags on it. One is the US flag, and the other two are unknown. A volunteer suggested that the blue flag with stars might be a naval ensign. The third flag is blue with a white diamond and within the diamond is the letter H. A copy of the painting is attached. Any assistance you or your readers can provide is welcome.
Bob Nawrocki, Chief Librarian, St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library, 19 January 2021
Navy Jack
Oy Hacklin House Flag
Image by Clay Moss, 3 February 2007 - Image by Jorge Candeias, 18 March 1999
The one on the left appears to be a standard 48-star Naval Jack flown by US Navy ships between the years of 1912-1959. That could help date the ship, or the painting itself. However, I am not familiar with an American shipping company with a house flag like the one shown. It does, however, look like the flag of Oy Hacklin, Ltd. of Finland. But the combination of these three flags is a strange one to me. Hopefully one of our naval experts can unravel this one.
Pete Loeser, 28 January 2021
Positive ID
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
The flag is probably a Swedish colonel's colour (Leibfahne) due to its white colour. The inscription on top is unfortunately hard to read. The number in centre is probably related to Swedish King Carl XII, also being Duke of zweibrücken, and the flag thus probably from the Great Nordic War. The ensigns uniform and the type of head also seems to be Swedish. Can anybody assist
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
It belongs to the former Royal Swedish Life Guard (Svea Livgarde) which was the Swedish monarch's personal guard (foot soldiers), with a history dating back to 1521. (Wikipedia: Life Guards (Sweden).
The flag in question is the model from 1686 (m/ 1686), which looks like it is from a flag-bearing tin soldier, and has been altered by adding the Roman numeral number of Charles XII (1682-1718; regent 1697-1718), though it should not really be there (as his monogram was a C/mirrored C). The text should read DILECTUMQUE DEO NULLA RUINA PREMIT, Latin for "The one chosen by god fears no defeat." The white colour is explained by the fact that this is a grenadier regiment.
The full story of the flag and the unit can be found (in English) here on Kunglig Majestäts Livgarde till fot - del 1 (tacitus.nu) and here on Kunglig Majestäts Livgarde till fot - del 2, both on the tacitus.nu website.
Daniel Lundberg, 26 June 2021
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
The pennant is parted of yellow and red with a black steering wheel shifted to hoist, I guess either a shipping company or a yacht club pennant. Can anybody assist?
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
The pennant is white with a bordure of German Colours black-red-golden, charged with a badge at hoist, displaying a white no.3 on a blue wave, above a silhouette of a black ship's prow with a gun, a fly an embowed shark. I guess, it is a ship flag.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 February 2021
This shows at hoist site the badge of the former German Navy Destroyer Z3. The badge can be found on several sites including offers of the badge on eBay and here on Amazon. I did not found an explanation for the whole flag - might be of a special operation or maneuver.... with some sort of fish-name.
Andreas Bühne, 13 March 2021
Image located by Pete Loeser, 13 March 2021
Based on Andreas's information, I found this coat of arms/plaque of the Bundesmarine Max Schultz Destroyer Z3 on eBay (source). However a second source, see German Navy Coat of Arms for the Z3, led me further down a rabbit hole.
I found that the original Max Schultz that Andreas had located sunk in mid-February of 1940 while proceeding into the North Sea to search for British fishing trawlers. One of her sisters, the Z1 Leberecht Maass, was bombed and sunk by a patrolling bomber. While trying to rescue survivors, the original Max Schultz struck a British mine and sank with all hands. (source). The pennant didn't look that old.
I then discovered in 1959 an American Fletcher-class destroyer named the USS Wadsworth (DD-516) was turned over to West Germany and went into the Federal Republic of Germany's Service as, you guessed it, a new Z3. For the next 20 years or so it served in the German navy before it changed hands again in October of 1980. It was renamed the Nearchos where it served until 1991 in the Hellenic Navy, then decommissioned and sold for scrap.
So this doesn't completely identify this pennant, but based on its good condition it seems to me that perhaps this was from the time period of 1959-1980, and the second German Z3. I leave it up to you naval experts to unravel the whole tale.
Pete Loeser 13 March 2021.
Tentative ID
Image from Andreas Bühne, 10 March 2021
I don't know anything about the origin of this second attached flag. Neither the country, nor the company. I have researched on the internet without results.
Andreas Bühne, 10 March 2021
Is it possible that you mention the specific source for this flag? That is: the book and/or publication, its author, date, and every other detail that might be useful in tracing this item, such as place of origin, etc.
Esteban Rivera, 10 March 2021
Unfortunately I don't know anything about the flag. When my father died I inherited a collection of more than 3,200 flags of shipping companies, shipyards and many other branches related to ships in some way.
My father already spent a lot of time with his books and he tried to find answers on the internet, but he did not note where he received the flags from. So I have nothing more than the table-flag, sized 25 x 15 cm.
Andreas Bühne, 10 March 2021
I believe it might be the flag of the Catskill Evening Line, an American company.
Dominique Cureau, 10 March 2021
Although the CEL lettering is correct (minus the periods) and the colors (while the same) are reversed between this flag and our existing CEL drawing, so I'd have to make this identification only a Tentative ID for the time being. I think we will have to dig a little deeper.
Pete Loeser, 13 March 2021
Image located by William Garrison, 12 April 2021
I have no idea what the wording reads on this Israeli flag. I do not know whether or not it is hand painted, or silk-screened. Perhaps one of your Israeli researchers can identify its relevance. (source)
The caption on the picture reads "Israelis celebrate Independence Day on the beach, 2019" (photo credit: Avshalom Sassoni)
William Garrison, 12 April 2021