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
#46a
#46b
Images from Randy Young, 24 August 2021
There is no intent to start a political discussion here; simply relaying a flag sighting from earlier today.
While driving my daughter to her doctor appointment this afternoon, we found ourselves stopped behind a school bus and in front of a house with some interesting flag display choices. Three flags were displayed on a flagpole, with a blue Trump 2020 campaign flag at the top above an upside-down American flag, itself above an upside-down Virginia flag. There were two additional flag poles attached to the house and flanking the front door. The pole to the right of the door held a tattered and barely recognizable white Trump 2020 flag. The pole to the left carried a black and white "III percenter" flag that I hadn't seen before. We talk about the III percent movement on FOTW showing an American flag with the Roman numeral III in white within the ring of 13 stars. The flag seen today, however, had that same Roman numeral III in white above the year "1776," all within a ring of 13 white stars and centered on a black field.
Please let me know if you have any questions or additional information. Thanks, and enjoy!
Randy Young, 24 August 2021
I wonder: What is the meaning of a upside-down flag that is not top-most? Our whole ship is burning, but a pirate has taken over the top of our flag mast?
Well, Frisians, of course, still sometimes hoist wefts as a sign of mourning. But other than that, I don't think anyone hoists wefts of any sort any more, except hoisting a flag upside down as a form of protest. That in itself makes sense, in a way, in that you indicate there's something wrong.
That would mean that hoisting a weft in any position or direction different from the regular, would indicate your ship (or house, as the case may be) is in distress.
So, hoisting a flag that has to always be in top, but hoist it lower, would make the entire hoist suspect. That then would be read as: Ruler trying to place himself above the nation. But then if the flag of the country itself is reversed, do we get "Idiot is trying to place himself above the nation?" Or is it merely "Guy trying to place himself above the nation and as a result we're a sinking ship?"
Even more puzzling: Hoisting a third flag. Does it inverse the flag of the second, or does it reverse that again, making it an upright flag again, even if upside down?
Puzzling,
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 25 August 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Pete Buss, 28 August 2021
I've recently had to clear my elderly parents house after they both passed away and discovered that my dad had kept a pennant that was gifted to me as a child by our next door neighbour at the time. I have a vague recollection that he had served in the navy during World War II, which would be about right time wise as I know his wife was born in 1907 and she outlived him by a good 20 years before passing away in 1996 (my mum was very good with her diary and birthdays).
Here's the pennant but I have absolutely no idea what it was used for. Was it displayed on HMS Renown? Would there only have been one or many? Would the crew have been given them as mementoes of their service? Any information of interest would be greatly appreciated.
Pete Buss, 28 August 2021
Your pennant obviously is associated with the HMS Renown, which has a substantial page on Wikipedia that mentions its
role in the Norwegian campaign.
As far as this pennant is concerned, it looks like it might be screen-printed and possibly on felt - can you confirm that? If so, I doubt it was aboard the battle cruiser during the campaign. It looks to me as if it was something that was made later, perhaps at the decommissioning.
Rob Raeside, 28 August 2021
Image from William Garrison, 3 Ocober 2021
Regarding flags of the Hazara tribe in Afghanistan, this is a unidentified flag is a possible addition. (source)
The progressive media whitewashes the misdeeds of the Taliban, even as the good jihadis put a bullet in someone's head, splattering blood all over. To say, however, that all their hate is targeted at non-Muslims would be wrong: the Taliban have slaughtered Muslims also, that is, the Muslims who were not Muslim enough for them. (jihadwatch.org)
The caption reads: " This photo was purportedly taken at some demonstration of Hazara tribe members; c. Aug. 2021." In the bottom right there is what appears to be a flag, but the photo source does not clearly state that the flag pertains to the Hazara - but one might infer that there is some correlation. (On the left, there appears to be a poster of some guy attached to a pole that at first glance might appear to be a flag, but most likely is just a poster. Hey, just call me "Sherlock".)
William Garrison, 3 Ocober 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Hans-Joachim Lincke, 5 September 2021
Some years ago, I've bought an oil painting that depicts a British paddle steamer. The painting is dated 1853 and the steamer's name is "Superb". There are several signal flags hoisted. At first, I thought them to be merely decorative. Later I found out that these flags refer to the Marryat code of signals. I studied the Marryat's manual, but could not make sense of the flags in their order. Maybe the painter used them just as a decorative element, but as far as I know portraits of ships in that time were done as realistic as possible. Thus, there may be a meaning that I do not understand as an amateur.
So my question is: Could you perhaps be so kind and help me with your expert knowledge, or could you help me by sending my request to someone who is well experienced into deciphering Marryat code?
Hans-Joachim Lincke, 5 September 2021
The use of Codes at sea in the early-to-mid 19th century was different than the codes used later. Both Marryat's and Rodgers' codes refer more to the flags than a specific code and the meanings could be a bit different from place to place although certain elements were fixed. For example, each vessel had its own code number and each port had a code as well.
This painting shows the following Marryat's Code Flags: 2-4-0-8-6-Distinguishing 2-Telegraph-9-Numeral-8-5. The Distinguishing and Telegraph and Numeral flags indicate some changes in the signal.
Various ports had different signal requirements as well. For example in 1839, the Port of Glascow required ships to display which port they were coming from, their Ship number, The number of days passage, and "All Well" if that is the case. I am not certain of what the signal for "All Well" was.
Other ports required similar but not necessarily the same kinds of hoists. Liverpool, for example only required a ship make its number while London required a ship number and the port of departure.
My take on this display is that we are looking at the ship number (anywhere from 2 to 4 digits) and Port of Departure (1-3 digits) in the first part of the hoist separated by the Distinguishing pennant and then Telegraph-9, whose meaning I am uncertain (maybe "All Well"?) and then the number of days passage. But I am just guessing.
Dave Martucci, 17 October 2021
Some Speculation
Image located by William Garrison, 14 September 2021
The caption on this photo reads: "unidentified Serbia/Srpska flag with embroidered image of General Ratko Mladic, c. Jan. 2019." (source)
William Garrison, 14 September 2021
This flag, featuring a portrait of Ratko Mladic surmounted by his name written in Cyrillic letters, has no particular vexillological merit.
[Although reportably]
"The caption on this photo reads: 'unidentified Serbia/Srpska flag with embroidered image of General Ratko Mladic, c. Jan. 2019.'", there is no such a caption in the source. The very same photos was used as an illustration in different media between 2019 and 2020, all without providing any context.
Ivan Sache, 10 October 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Kent Venish, 14 September 2021
Modified by Rob Raeside, 14 September 2021
I know this is not a flag, but just maybe you folks would know what the emblem is on the right rear of this Peugeot 202...
Kent Venish, 14 September 2021
Not really for FOTW - but a request for identification we may be able to help. I have reduced the image, but copied the emblem at original size in the lower left corner.
Rob Raeside, 14 September 2021
I don't know what the emblem is, but I can help steer you in the right direction. The photo is WW2 northern France, thus 1944: a US Army medic is helping a wounded German Luftwaffe officer (identifiable from his hat on the ground). The German was probably in the Peugeot staff car when he was hit. The license plate (WH) identifies it as a Wehrmacht Heer (Army) vehicle. (A Luftwaffe vehicle would be WL.) The emblem is most probably a German army unit. (I have no expertise in those, sorry.) The men in the background are US Army.
T.F. Mills, 14 September 2021
Wouldn't the NW letters stand for Nordwest (air group/squadron or whatever)?
Corentin Chamboredon, 15 September 2021
Images from Andreas Neschki,
I have inherited the following flag from a friend and thought it would be of interesting for FOTW. [Perhaps some additional background information could be discovered?]
Andreas Neschki via Martina Koomen, 16 September 2021
Positive ID
Image from Nancy Byers, 16 September 2021
I have a ship model of the Tusitala that was displayed at India House NYC. James A. Farrell was my husband's Great Grandfather. I am in the process of writing the histories for these family heirlooms to leave to the next generation of collectors and I'm having a hard time identifying a flag.
The flag has a blue background and a man, it is not the Farrell Lines flag, Isthmian Lines flag, or the Robert Steele (shipbuilder) flag. Could it be the house flag for when the ship was a training vessel in the late 30's?
Nancy Byers, 16 September 2021
I don't recognise this flag - it almost reminds of some of the pirate flags.
Rob Raeside, 16 September 2021
It is interesting you mention how the Tusitala flag resembles a pirate flag. This sends us down an interesting rabbit hole indeed. The Ship Tusitala was the last full-rigged merchant ship to fly American flag. It was built in 1883. In 1899, the author Robert Louis Stevenson sailed with his family from San Francisco on an almost three year voyage across the eastern and central Pacific. In 1890, they settled in the village of Vailima on Upolu, one of the Samoan islands. There he took the Samoan name Tusitala, meaning "Teller of Tales" and would live out his life. In 1923, the before mentioned merchant ship Tusitala became the private yacht of James A. Farrell, the president of U.S. Steel. After that it went on to became a training ship for merchant seamen in 1939.
You can probably see where I'm heading with all this. Stevenson wrote the book "Treasure Island" which introduced the world to his infamous Long John Silver, a fictional pirate. All these small threads of history seem to tie together in an interesting bit of speculation, don't they? In 1986, there was released a three-part mini-series for television based on the last years in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson named "Tusitala," which I haven't seen, but will be looking for now. I wonder if it has a pirate flag in it? Welcome to my latest flag Rabbit Hole.
Pete Loeser, 10 October 2021
#55a
#55b
Photo located by Pete Loeser, 16 September 2021
The Argonaut Line Flag the work of Joe McMillan.
OK, I'm going to get serious now. As I said, the Ship Tusitala was the last full-rigged merchant ship to fly the American flag. It was iron sided and built in 1883. When it became the private yacht of James A. Farrell, the president of U.S. Steel, he also purchased a shipping company named the Argonaut Line. Farrell's son began the Farrell Shipping Company, incorporated the earlier shipping company with it. After his father's death, he kept the Tusitala in service sailing from New York to Hawaii via the Panama Canal until in 1939. After that, as mentioned, the Tusitala went on to became a training ship for merchant seamen operated by the United States Maritime Services Training Center at Bayboro Harbor in St. Petersburg, Florida. The ship was finally scrapped in Mobile, Alabama in 1947.
Further information:
- #55: a picture of the Tusitala model that Nancy Byers mentions (#55a), sold last at auction in August of 2021.
- #55b: The House Flag of the Argonaut Line.
and also direct your attention to UFE14-5 which speculates on the Signal Flags used on the Tusitala.
Pete Loeser, 10 October 2021
Images located by William Garrison, 17 September 2021
These are two photos of same flag, taken from slightly different angels - both showing some additional details of white slogans.
Their captions read:
- "pro-Muslim black-field flag with unidentified white slogans & white fringe, at demonstration in Sydney, Australia, c. Sept. 2012." (source)
-"On 15 September 2012, a protest against perceived anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims was held in Sydney, New South Wales. While the protest started peacefully, violent confrontations between police and protesters began when protesters reached the United States Consulate General. In resulting clashes, six police officers and 19 protesters were injured. The violence was condemned by Australian political leaders, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Police arrested nine protesters in connection with the violence." (source)
William Garrison, 17 September 2021
Images from Ron Compton, 4 October 2021
A few years ago I inherited some yard-long photos that my grandfather had. He was in the Navy 1918-1944.
One photo it appears to be US and British sailors & marines with pints of beer at an outdoor event.
My educated guess in sometime in the 1930's. I attached the section of the photo I am curious about. (It has been stored in a tube and very curled so difficult to get the whole picture)
In the background there is the Union Jack and the 48-star US flag, but between them appears a one or two banners and one has one white star.
I never have seen one like this. There is no note of date or location in photograph.
My grandfather served ships in both the Atlantic or Pacific so I have no guesses where or when this was taken. My best guess in sometime in the 1930s.
Ron Compton, 4 October 2021
#64a
#64b
#64c
Images from Werner Müller, 11 November 2021
This is the start of a series of yacht clubs, probably all German and no longer existing. The contributor, Werner Müller, has much more material and I guess, he will be sending it directly into FOTW thru Pete Loeser. If I remember right, there had been some 3 dozens of these stick pins. I have already seen the complete material, but I lost it, as I had kept it in my Unknown-Folder, where it was deleted automatically after 3 months. Hopefully, one of our specialists can identify some of the clubs for him.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 November 2021
More explanation and two more unidentified stick pins can be found on UFE21-68. "Unidentified Flag Stick Pins".
Pete Loeser, 23 December 2021
Some Speculation
Image from Tyler Boyco, 18 November 2021
Do you by chance recognize this flag? I'm sorry for the poor quality. It's related to Canadian indigenous people, but I haven't a clue what it could be. If you have any idea, please let me know!
Tyler Boyco, 18 November 2021
I'm afraid I cannot recognise this one, and I checked our collection of Indigenous flags without luck. It's not a common flag. Can I assume it was seen in northern Ontario?
Rob Raeside, 18 November 2021
Positive ID
Image from William Garrison, 21 November 2021
As hundreds of protesters were rallying outside a prison in Georgia to demand that the country's incarcerated former President Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred to a private cell, this was seen. (source) Is it really a flag?
The caption read: "Georgian supporters of former president Mikheil Saakashvili hold national flags, a white-field flag with Saakashvilli's portrait, and posters during a rally in front of the prison where the former president is being held, in Rustavi, about 20 km from the capital Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021."
William Garrison, 21 November 2021
Not sure if this is really a flag, perhaps a protest banner?
Rob Raeside, 21 November 2021
Why is the inscription in English?
Will Linden, 21 November 2021
Well, not quite sure who says what, but this ABC News feature shows a flag, AFAIKS, used as a protest.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 22 November 2021
A protest banner used as a flag? See these photos: photo #1, photo #2, photo #3, and photo #4.
Ivan Sache, 22 November 2021
Some Speculation
#68a
#68b
Images from Werner Müller, 14 November 2021
These are not pennants or flags made of fabric, but rather miniatures made of metal that can be attached by a pin. They show the respective club burgees, or pennants, which can be attached to the boats or yachts. They are, so to speak, miniature versions of the actual pennants or flags of the respective yacht or water sports club. As an addition, this time I scanned the back showing the needle. Can any of these clubs be identified?
Werner Müller, 14 November 2021
Generally, we call these "stick pins" in English. They are often used on ties, suit lapels, etc.
The first three you sent to Klaus-Michael Schneider were posted as UFE21-63 - "German Yacht Club Stick Pins."
Pete Loeser, 15 November 2021
Some Speculation
#69a
#69b (detail)
Images from E. Edwards McKinnon, 24 November 2021
I wondered if you might recognise this type of ship and the blue and red flag? Painting seen in Denpasar, Bali. At a guess, this is mid/late c19th and associated with the NEI.
E. Edwards McKinnon, 24 November 2021
I am afraid I do not recognise the flag, nor the blue and yellow flags
also seen there.
Rob Raeside, 25 November 2021
Some Speculation
Image located by William Garrison, 1 December 2021
"After the day of fasting comes the night of feasting. For Iranians, the familiar rhythm of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan brought an entirely different sort of celebration on the night of July 14th." (source).
The caption reads: "Iranian national flag with 'I.R. Iran' (Islamic Republic of Iran) wording, in Tehran, 14 July 2015".
William Garrison, 1 December 2021
This is an odd one - not only is the text in English, but the Farsi text bordering the fields is missing. Note that image dates from 2015.
Rob Raeside, 1 December 2021
Some Speculation
Image from John Crebbin, 17 December 2021
I am wondering if you can identify this one? Probably pre-1970.
John Crebbin, 17 December 2021
One would think OPCC would be good clue, but I don't see anything that might use a fleur-de-lys with those letters. Do you have any provenance information? What part of the world is it in or did it come from?
Rob Raeside, 17 December 2021
A scout group from Canada could well have a flag that does not involve a national emblem.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 17 December 2021
"Country Club" would be another avenue of exploration. More information on the article itself could help. It looks like an inlay on a wooden item of some kind; an award or a trophy, for example?
Russ & Janet Adams, 18 December 2021
My father was Captain F.E. Crebbin and the Marine Superintendent of Lamport & Holt of Liverpool. The Flag is on a wooden tray and was, no doubt, given to him as a corporate gift. My son living in Philadelphia now has it.
John Crebbin, 18 December 2021
Source
Detail #75a
Detail #75b
Detail #75c
Detail #75d
Images from William Garrison, 14 December 2021
The text for this photo was "The below two photos, on the right, reveal four unidentified flags: three white & 1 green. They may be related to the Shiite-Muslim 'Al-Nujaba Movement' militia in Iraq. The yellow flag appears to be that of the 'Hizbollah Brigades'. All three white flags show Hizbollah/Hisbollah-related imagery. The second-from-the-right white-flag also appears as a desktop flag in the photo. In somewhat of a distraction, at the top right, appears the 'blue flame' logo of MEMRI - which conceals part of the flags [source info: Iraqi Shi'ite militia leader Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi, the Secretary General of the Al-Nujaba Movement, said in a December 10, 2021 address to Iraqi militia leaders that aired on Al-Nujaba TV (Iraq)..."
The second photo had this text: "the below photo is similar to the above photo, however, on the right the fright-most white flag does not show the MEMRI 'blue flame' logo, unlike the top photo. Also, an unidentified green flag appears at the far right."
The source of these was on-line "The MEMRI Daily" (The Middle East Media Research Institute"), 14 Dec 2021. (source)
William Garrison, 14 December 14, 2021
The image attached was one of several in the link that shows the flags with slightly different perspectives. The best of the green flag (#75d) is this one.
Rob Raeside, 14 December 2021
