Last modified: 2016-05-27 by pete loeser
Keywords: ufe | unidentified flags | 2016 |
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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 Positive ID
Image from Jens Pattke, 2 January 2016
Can anyone identify the leftmost flag in this picture that is found on the Collectivite de Saint Martin website? White with a brown logo and inscription "Ile de Saint Martin". To the right are the flags of Saint Martin (flag with green-blue logo of the
Collectivite de Saint Martin), France and the European Union.
Jens Pattke, 2 January 2016
This emblem has been reported in 2011 on FOTW, but not as a flag, but as the Emblem of the Collectivity of Saint-Martin. The emblem itself can be found at the FAXINFO website. I think it is a new or modernized version placed on that white flag. The inscription has a different typeface, and the blue edge of emblem is sharper.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 January 2016
#1a
#1b
Images from Jens Pattke, 3 January 2016
A Czech vexillologist identified the flag as the flag of the
commune of Saint Martin (ville de Saint Martin). Flag #1a was a proposal for Island of Saint Martin made in 2011 and Flag #1b dates from 2015 for the commune.
Jens Pattke, 3 January 2016
Positive ID
Image from Esteban Rivera, 3 January 2016
Yesterday while watching the music video of "Hey Mama" by EDM (Electronic Dance Music) artist David Guetta, and featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack, I noticed at the 0:48 mark there's a flag resembling a US flag (featuring an anchor within 13 stars in a circle) very similar to the U.S. Betsy Ross flag that I didn't recognize. The video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis and released on May 19, 2015, according to this Wikipedia article.
Esteban Rivera, 3 January 2016
I think that is just be the reverse side of a US Yacht Ensign. As to why this particular flag is used in this video is unclear to me.
Pete Loeser, 3 January 2016
Tentative ID
Image from Pete Loeser, 4 January 2016
While watching the CNN report on the protestors occupying a Federal building in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, the footage also showed a group of supporters protesting in Burns, Oregon. I spotted three flags on a flag pole. The one in the middle is one I didn't recognize and unfortunately it was very hard to see. Maybe somebody else got a better look at it?
Pete Loeser, 4 January 2016
In the photo that you attached, it looks to me like: Top - Gadsden flag, Middle - Iowa state flag, and Bottom - III Percent flag. What do you think?
Randy Young, 7 January 2016
I think you may be correct about it being the Iowa Flag, but I wonder what the heck it is doing there? Out-of-town visitors?
Pete Loeser, 8 January 2016
Some Speculation
Image from Marc Pasquin, 2 January 2016
I've been clearing out my "todo" folder and found a flag I seem to have sent back in 2004, but can't find it on the site so I am resending it.
Now to the question and apologies in advance if this starts something unintended. Flags related to Kosovo post declaration of independence are currently still placed in a page that refers to it as a province of Serbia, considering that 111 UN members recognize it as a sovereign country vs 85 that don't, shouldn't it, at the very least, be refers to as a disputed territory? While I realize that placing it under its XK national code could be seen as FOTW taking sides, it seems to me that referring to it still as a province of Serbia despite a majority of countries officially considering it otherwise is just as much a case of side-taking.
Marc Pasquin, 2 January 2016
This is the first time I have see such a design and, while not being able to say anything about it, I just remembered a photo from [zna99a], p. 235, showing protesters from Kosovo in March 1998, photographed through the cut-out eagle on an Albanian flag from which the eagle was completely removed, leaving only traces of black color. (Actually, I had to download this image and open in an image viewer in order to be sure I did not see a transparent area instead of white, due to black outline which I saw in both images.) Unfortunately, the source did not
reveal any details about the photo, so while it remains a mystery to me, what if the 2002 photo was showing another flag with a hole?
As for the status of Kosovo the opinions on this vary a lot: Mello Luchtenberg treats Kosovo as a fully independent country, his own country having recognized it, while Ralf Hartemink still treats it as the part of Serbia and even has had the statement posted that he would do so until the UN recognizes it. For now, Kosovo has a page of its own in the FOTW national index, but has no country code - the same case as with Scotland. In my opinion, not inventing a code for Kosovo is not taking a sides, just like giving a separate list entry to Scotland could not have been interpreted like taking a side in the matter of Scottish independence,
which was a rather heated question recently.
In short, I think it would be the best to leave the things as they are now.
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 January 2016
I just checked the book and It is possible, the eagle sure looks like the same design but due to the presence of eyes, this could only have been achieved if the hole was actually a piece of transparent material on which the eyes were drawn or printed. A bit like Australian and a few other currencies that have "windows".
The "XK" I mentioned wasn't made up, it was taken from the temporary code used by the European Commission and a few others, but what I thought was really an issue is the fact that the title of the various pages relating to Kosovo is "Kosovo (Province, Serbia)". I think the difference with Scotland is that neither Scotland nor the international community currently considered it to be independent. We do, however, have Northern Cyprus's title page being "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and not "Kyrenia & Famagusta (Districts, Cyprus)" despite the fact that only a single country (Turkey) recognised it.
What I'm driving at is that maybe disputed areas such as these should have a title that reflects it.
Marc Pasquin, 2 January 2016
The main page for Kosovo has the title "Kosovo (Province, Serbia) since the declaration of independence (2008)" - I think that it reflects the dispute quite well, displaying the controversy within the title. The Kosovo pages are all divided into "before" and "after" the
declaration of independence, which is generally reflected in their titles as well.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus pages, on the other hand, are explicitly categorized as the "Flags of disputed areas", but the code is the same as for the rest of the island, including the Sovereign Base Areas, to which it should not apply.
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 January 2016
Image from Marc Pasquin, 2 January 2016
[The following four comments are added from a short off-list discussion - Ed.]
[Off-list Comment #1] I think Tomislav is more than likely correct in that the flag I sent is the same as the transparent one seen in Znamierowski's book and that the picture I took it from was simply taken at such an angle as to making it seem white. If so, it might simply have been a prop made for that particular demonstration to take the photography in question and might not really warrant inclusion unless to note its existence if someone comes across the same picture. I've attached the original picture so you can have a look.
Marc Pasquin, 3 January 2016
[Off-list Comment #2] On this photo, the eagle is either white or made of a transparent fabric, but is not a cut-out - see the eyes? In a cut out, they would not have been seen - and they were not seen in Znamierowski's example. Consequently, it should be added to the UFE section, along with this photo to clear all the doubts.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 January 2016
[Off-list Comment #3] Actually I think you're mistaken Tomislav, the eyes can be seen (albeit blurrily) in Znamierowski's example. Look in the white section of the sky above the crowd and you should see a dark crescent shape which is darker then the trees in the distance. That being said, I agree that putting it on the UFE pages is probably indeed the way to go.
Marc Pasquin
[Off-list Comment #4] I agree! I recognize both eyes now when you pointed it out. I have no idea, though, why would anybody make a flag with transparent charges, especially those which are essential for the design.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 January 2016
[And so it has now been added - Ed.]
Some Speculation
Screenshot from Jens Pattke, 5 January 2016
In a YouTube video of the Western Samoa Independence Ceremony, New Year's Day 1962, at 3 minutes 12 to 15 seconds there appears a flag which bears striking semblance to several historic German flags, particularly the Third Reich Kriegsflagge. What is it - I presume it is the flag of a church youth group? Could the design be influenced by the "Second" Reich Kriegsflagge, due to the fact that Samoa was a German colony from 1900 to 1914?
Miles Li, 5 January 2016
Or perhaps the flag of the Germany Colonial Society - based on the star pattern that seems to be on the flag.
Pete Loeser, 8 January 2016
Positive ID
Images from Marc L. Hendon Sr., 9 January 2016
Recently I acquired a cup with this flag. I have searched and cannot find it. I think it is a shipping Line, but not sure from what country?
Marc L. Hendon Sr., 9 January 2016
The red flag with three white stars is the rank flag of a lieutenant general, and the hourglass-like symbol with the Roman numeral I is the patch for the South Korean Army's I Corps, which is commanded by a lieutenant general. Interestingly, the rank flag is for a US Army lieutenant general, not a South Korean. Also, the maker's mark on the cup - Mokpo China - points to South Korea as Mokpo is a city in southwestern South Korea.
Randy Young, 16 January 2016
Positive ID
Image from Pete Loeser, 18 January 2016
While staying at a RV Park in Pismo Beach, California, I noticed this green flag flying from a RV underneath a blue Seattle Seahawks Flag (American Football Team). It had the words "KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON" written in block grey letters under a crown. The owner left before I could ask what it was. Obviously a play on the "Keep Calm and Carry On" British slogan from World War II, but any ideas? It looked a bit "punn-ish" to me.
Pete Loeser, 18 January 2016
This flag is related to the Chive website. Apparently, there are numerous items with this slogan.
Rick Wyatt, 18 January 2016
Image from Pete Loeser, 18 January 2016
Apparently social media has left me behind once again. Not only does the flag I posted exist, there are others. See this second flag. You can see it flying at Chive Nation or at their shop and on their FaceBook page. I understand it is also on Twitter, what can one say. Now if I only understood what it was? It appears somebody is making a lot of money once again; everybody have your T-Shirt yet?
Pete Loeser, 18 January 2016
Further research has discovered that The Chive is a photo-entertainment website independently owned and operated by Resignation Media. Two brothers, John and Leo Resig, launched Registration Media in November of 2008. The Chive name was born from combining the names of the two cities in which the brothers lived. Leo lived in Chicago (CHI) and John was lived in Venice Beach, California (VE). They went on to create additional entertainment websites, all of which are staffed and managed by members of the Resig family. The headquarters for Resignation Media, the parent company of The Chive, is located in Austin, Texas.
The Chive has been responsible for a series of embarrassing internet hoaxes that were later reported as true stories by some mainstream media outlets. On the plus side, The Chive is also responsible for Chive Charities, in which they raise awareness and funds for specific individuals in need of assistance. They have donated to veterans, children with birth defects, shooting victims, fire departments, rescue squads, and many others in need. The community of people who regularly visit the Chive, known as Chivers, have donated over $100,000 to several causes within hours. (Source: Wikipedia)
Pete Loeser, 21 January 2016
Some Speculation
Images from Martin Dix, 26 January 2016
Here is an image of an unusual flag I thought might be of interest to you. It was spotted in Fleet Street in London on Sunday, 24 January. It was on a building with no obvious plaques or notices indicating what it might be for although there is a religious book shop of the "Protestant Truth Society" on the ground floor. As you can probably see, it is three black stripes on a red background. I have been along this road in the past but have never seen this before.
Martin Dix, 26 January 2016
Perhaps an AC Milan Fan?
Marc Pasquin, 29 January 2016
Image by Mallefotz, 28 February 2014
The background looks orange, rather than red, to me. Reminds me of the
Saint George's Ribbon [often used by pro-Russian protestors in Ukraine] which has been reported earlier. However, that flag seems unlikely to appear in the said location.
Tomislav Todorovic, 29 January 2016
Image by Ivan Sache, 14 December 1999
Or perhaps the Canterbury (NZ) rugby team? Or Manchester City (though it's their reserve strip, so less likely)? Any number of top sports teams have red and black stripes. It's also the city flag of Kihelkonna in Estonia. [Note: Dieter Mayr also reported the similarity of this flag to that of the Estonian municipality of Kikelkonna, but couldn't see any connection to London - Ed]
James Dignan, 30 January 2016
Positive ID
#16a
Image from David Alexandrow, 13 February 2016
I wollte Fragen ob sie diese Variante der Russlanddeutschen Flagge die sich zurzeit in den Sozialen Netzwerken verbreitet in das flaggenlexikon oder den fahnenversand aufzunehmen damit die Flagge sich weiterverbreitet.
[Loose English translation: "I wanted to ask whether this variant of a Russian-German flag, whose existence is currently spreading in the Flags Lexicon social network, is real so it can spreads further." ???]
David Alexandrow, 13 February 2016
If I have understood right, the contributor wants to know, whether the flag is really a flag of Germans in Russia or just a mere fantasy.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 February 2016
[A better translation would be] "I wanted to ask whether you will include this version of the Russian Germans' flag which currently is spreading through the social network in the flag encyclopedia or the fahnenversand.de [one of our mirror hosts] so the flag can continue to spread...".
The best that can be said of this flag is apparently that it is spreading through the social network. That claim sounds to me like the wishful thinking of others who wanted their own flag included. I expect the answer to the original poster ought to be that we won't include it in FOTW at the moment. The answer to the question raised by Klaus-Michael would probably be that it is a fantasy. But if someone knows more ...
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 15 February 2016
Looking like an unofficial project made for the social network [to the question "Do Germans from Russia have a flag?" by providing a fantasy design for a flag.]
Victor Lomantsov, 15 February 2016
#16b
#16c
#16d
Image #16b from Der Tagesspiegel, 16 February 2016 - Images #16c and #16d by Jens Pattke, 9 April 2014
In the Anti-Islam and Pegida Demonstrations, the Russian-Germans used a flag version that is combined from the German and Russian flags (#16b). This flag is unofficial.
A black-yellow-white flag (#16c) with a coat-of-arms featuring a corn ear is that of the Territorial Association of the Germans from Russia. It is considered the official organisation of "Germans from Russia"in Germany. Another similar flag (#16d) using the German colors black-red-gold is based on the creativity of flag manufacturers; completely unofficial but used.
As for the flag (16a) with the double-headed eagle, is a completely imaginary. Germans from "Russia" or Wolgadeutsche, normally use the flags of their original birth countries: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan.
Jens Pattke, 15 February 2016
Positive ID
#10a
#10b
Images from Pete Loeser, 18 February 2016
These flags were displayed by the Hungarian Garlic Front, but don't appear to be their standard flags. If you look closely at the second flag in from the right in photo #10a, it does not appear to either apple or garlic. Then looking closely at the right hand flag on the photo #10b it almost appears to be a watermelon - certainly, at the very least, a variant of the flag normally displayed by the Garlic Front. All the other flags appear to be those of the German Apple Front. Any Ideas?
Pete Loeser, 18 February 2016
Image from Tomislav Todorovic, 18 February 2016
Still it seems to be a variant depiction of garlic - see this youTube video and this FaceBook page. Clearly, the garlic may be depicted in more than one way.
Tomislav Todorovic, 18 February 2016
Images from Pete Loeser, 18 February 2016
I believe you nailed it, they all seem to be simply different interpretations of the Hungarian Garlic. I've since found a several more variants to add to the collection from their FaceBook page. Although hard to see, the second garlic has light detail stitching on the black silhouette. Hopefully our illustrators can make some nice drawings of these different versions.
Pete Loeser, 18 February 2016
Positive ID
Obverse side
Reverse side
Images from David Green, 4 March 2016
Could you help me identify this flag. It was brought back from a soldier during the World War II era. It's two sided and has the letters A W G on the side with the bird or dragon. Not sure exactly what it is. Any help is appreciated.
David Green, 4 March 2016
The flag might be related in some way to South Ossetia or North Ossetia (Georgia). Not sure if there is any evidence of it being used by any groups back then.
Marc Pasquin, 4 March 2016
The colours of Ossetia was designed in 1980s. The flags did not exist in World War II
Victor Lomantsov, 4 March 2016
Any idea where the man fought, his units, details like that?
Marc Pasquin, 4 March 2016
I finally found out what the flag was after a lot of research. It is an old flag from the German youth group before the Nazi regime took it over before World War II. It is called Wandervogel. It predates the war because it does not display any of the symbols used by them.
David Green, 1 April 2016
I agree it's similar to a Wandervogel flag, but I haven't encountered this specific emblem yet. I also don't know about the three colour side as yet.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 9 April 2016
Positive ID
Image from William Garrison, 13 March 2016
[Can you identify this] unknown Shiite militia [flag?], c. 2015-2015
William Garrison, 13 March 2016
I located the exact link of the image: The picture caption reads: "Iranian-made Toophan anti-tank missile used by Shi'ite militias in Iraq". The website is the official website of ITIC (Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center), also known as the "Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center" in honor
of Meir Amit, an Israeli politician and cabinet minister (who) served as the Chief Director and the head of global operations for the Mossad from 1963 to 1968, before entering into politics and holding two ministerial positions. "He was also widely regarded as the most successful intelligence officer and a leading political figure for Israel". ITIC is part of the IICC (Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center), an NGO
dedicated to the memory of the fallen of the Israeli Intelligence Community (Official website). As you can see, it is an Israeli website that keeps updates on information on terrorists groups.
The main topic of this article is the Iranian intervention in the Syrian Civil War and its recent developments, such as the use of the Toophan (Typhoon) missile, provided by Iran to the Quds Force, which is part of the IRGC to Shiite militias acting as proxies in that conflict, as part of a broader coalition of countries supporting the Syrian government. In fact, the link of the main article it mentions Brigadier General Esmail (Ismail) Qa'ani (who is second in command in the IRGC) to be at the forefront of operations, together with Qasem Soleimani, who is the overall commander.
Also, the link provided above has a brief summary
of the full article in PDF format which encompasses actions and reports from February 28 up to March 13, 2016 gathered and analyzed by Dr. Raz Zimmt (the author), as the overview states in its first page (of this PDF document): "Spotlight on Iran" is an (ITIC) Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center bulletin illuminating Iran's activities to establish its influence in the Middle East and beyond. It is based on reports in the Iranian media and written for the ITIC by Dr. Raz Zimmt, an expert on Iran's politics, society, foreign policy and social networks." Looking up for more on this, I came across the following image (see
the third logo from left to right) and article.
In this Reddit article, the main reference is that the three major Shiite militias acting as proxies of Iran in Iraq are: Badr Brigade, Asaib Ahl Haq, and Kataib Hezbollah.
In the above list, one in particular stands out, and it is this image, posted on Twitter by Iraq Live Update, on this tweet, with
the following comment: "Iraqi Hashd forces (AAH) (which is an umbrella
organization), which encompasses some 40 militias, among them the Kata'ib al-Imam
al-Gha'ib, and Fed Police units destroy Daesh (another name for Isis) VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) using Iranian TOW (Toophan) missiles #Iraq #Samarra".
To me, the original reported UFE seems like this one "The League of
the Righteous" (As-saib Ahl al Haq) which is one of the three main Shiite groups mentioned above (here's a preliminary list, and source). Different versions of their logo can be found here (pages 1 and 2). In the above mentioned PDF article it mentions the following: "Formed in 2006 when it split from Muqtada al-Sadr's Jaysh al-Mahdi, the Shia
Islamist, Iraq-based Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous, or AAH) was created with the help of Lebanese Hizballah) and the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps." There's also the same image as the reported UFE featured in this article on page 7, but the image is credited to the Twitter account I just mentioned, so it is the same. For additional reference go to the article by ISW (The Institute for the Study of War).
To have a better understanding of the intricate groups and alliances taking part in this proxy war, there's a map and a list of groups as well.
Esteban Rivera, 27 March 2016
Again, this flag is the flag of "The League of the Righteous" (As-saib Ahl al Haq)
Esteban Rivera, 10 April 2016
Some Speculation
Image from Esteban Rivera, 14 March 2016
In this picture one can see a sky blue flag at the end of the row of a total six
flags. If the National Assembly currently has five political parties, does anybody know the sky blue flag at the
end of the above mentioned picture, to what party does it belong to, or what it stands for?
The same flag can be seen: Source here (image here) - First flag from left to right). On the electoral ballot (source here) for Presidential Elections of 2014 we can see that candidate number 7 is labeled as Libre postulación (Independent) and has the sky blue color assigned, and that other independent candidates (#8 and #9) also have a color to be distinguished from the other candidates, but that is no official movement nor political party.
Is this common practice to denote an independent candidate with a color and issue a flag, or that is just mere coincidence?
Esteban Rivera, 14 March 2016
I think I remember reading somewhere that the Electoral Tribunal (TE) of Panama represents independent, or free applicant candidates (Libre Postulación), who are running in an election by using a plain undecorated flag like that sky blue one. I'd guess for other independent candidates they'd use other colors. If I'm not mistaken they had three independent candidates running in the last general election for President (Esteban Rodríguez, Juan Jované and Gerardo Barroso) and perhaps they were assigned the same color? Hopefully somebody can verify this (only an "educated guess" or hypothesis, right now) for us.
Pete Loeser, 18 March 2016
Positive ID
Image from Jens Pattke, 16 March 2016
In the spring of 1949 a donation stamp was issued in the Soviet-occupied Germany. Theme of the donations stamp was the Greek Civil War 1948/49. The Motto Verteidigt den Frieden, helft dem demokratischen Griechenland (Defend the peace, help the democratic Greece!). It shows an unknown Greek flag. Can anyone identify the flag?
Jens Pattke, 16 March 2016
Given the place and time of issue, it can only be a flag of the Greek Democratic Army, but differs from the one presented on the Greek Democratic Army (1945-1949) page.
Tomislav Todorovic, 16 March 2016
Probably flag of Greek People's Liberation Army/ELAS (Ellinikós (or) Ethnikós Laikós Apelevtherotikós Stratós), a mainly communist army, being the military wing of National Liberation Front/EAM (Ethnikó Apelevtherotikó Métopo), supported by the Soviet Union, and in 1949(?) finally defeated by the Greek government, massively supported by Great Britain and later on by the USA. Many of their members with families had to flee to Albania and never saw their homeland any more or had to live in Albania for decades.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 16 March 2016
This was the flag of the Democratic Army of Greece during the Greek Civil War.
Miles Li, 16 March 2016
Image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 16 March 2016
I cannot add to what Miles, Klaus-Michael, and Tomislav already offered, but here's the flag on those stamps redrawn into standard format.
It is a blue flag with a large symmetric cross throughout, its arms thick as one third of the flag's height (and, in that, differing from its likely origin - the alternative national flag and on the center a red disc tangent to the four concave corners of the cross charged with a white equilateral triangle, pointing up and tangent to the edge of the disc, voided to a thickness of about 5% of the flag's height, making an uppercase letter delta, "Δ".
António Martins-Tuválkin, 17 March 2016
This flag is a variant of flag of the Democratic Army of Greece (ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΚ′ΟΣ ΣΤΡΑΤ′ΟΣ ΕΛΛ′ΑΔΑΣ). There are other variants of this
flag. Enclosed I send some links to pictures and videos of the army. Here you can see the number of flags of the Democratic Greece. With red 5 pointed Star and without star etc. The correct logo of the Democratic Army of Greece was a red letter ""Delta" in a blue circle. But there were also versions with a red delta and red circle. Or variants with white delta on red circular field.
Examples and Sources:
Some Speculation
Image from Kathy and Lynn Dale Touchtone, 16 March 2016
We have a cup with two flags on it and we have been unable to locate either of these flags. We would appreciate your knowledge again if you can identify either one.
Kathy and Lynn Dale Touchtone, 16 March 2016
Just a remark: The flag on the left is like the (unidentified) one posted as UFE10-30 - "Flag on a Zippo Lighter", but with reversed colours.
Jeroen van Leeuwen, 29 March 2016
Some Speculation
original
detail
Images from mabdelr, 20 March 2016
I found a photo on Facebook page for Egyptian history enthusiasts. It shows the palace of Sultana Melek, consort of Sultan Hussien Kamel of Egypt (ruled 1914 - 1917). Flying atop the palace is the "national" flag of the Egyptian sultanate at the time, (Red, with three crescents each with a star, in white) with what appears to be a crown in the canton. According to the caption, the photo is from 1915. I have never seen this flag before, but if it is indeed a royal standard of some sort, it would be the direct inspiration for the later royal standard on land, which was also the national flag with a crown in the canton. Attached are the original photograph, and a detail showing the flag.
mabdelr, 20 March 2016
I couldn't help but notice the relationship between this flag and that of UFE08-17 "Three White Crescents on Green Field" first posted by David Kendall on 11 September 2008. At least it gives us a hint on the colors of the flag.
Pete Loeser, 26 March 2016
Ah, yes, about that other one: It's never mentioned in the film, The Wind and the Lion, but the shots it is in are usually shots of Raisuli and his people. Either he is in the scene, often with the flag flown by the rider next to him, or it flies over their location. The one exception is when it is flown during an attack to free Raisuli. Does that make it a flag for Raisuli, his followers, his family? I don't know, but it's certainly a flag of status in the film, more than a flag that just happens to be present in one scene.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 26 March 2016
Positive ID
Image from Fred Schwan, 21 March 2016
My area of interest and specialty is World War II. In particular right now I am working on US Treasury Minuteman flags and Army-Navy E award banners/flags. I just purchased this Minuteman flag on e-Bay that I cannot find among the many great images that you have in a section on these flags. The one that I bought has three stars at the lower right corner. Two are gold one white. I suspect that this flag is for the the 11th year of qualifying for the Minuteman flag. I would like confirmation of this idea or contradictory or supplemental information.
Fred Schwan, 21 March 2016
Image from Zachary Harden, 22 March 2016
This is the closest that I can find. Each gold star is for 5 consecutive years of Bond sales by at least 50% of employees participating, the white star is for 1 year of at least 50% of employees participating. (Source: US Militaria Forum.)
Zachary Harden, 22 March 2016
[On our US Savings Bond page,] we have the charge slightly larger, and the stars all upright. We might want to check those details with other ""Minuteman flags"; they could e.g. be specific for a specific period of time, but it does look like it's the same basic design. For the stars: we have one and below it we have five. As "The size and placement of the star varies.", the flag from Ebay would fit the pattern.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 March 2016
Some Speculation
Image from Kamil Salus, 22 March 2016
I have been researching this flag...and have no clue what the origin of it is or what it means. I've been following your website for a long while and coming to you as an authority on flags. Can you please help me figure out what this flag is all about?
Kamil Salus, 22 March 2016
This flag was seen in Mystic, Connecticut.
Rob Raeside, 23 March 2016
This could be a coincidence, but five Turks were killed in a suicide bombing in Istanbul today... could it be some kind of Turkish mourning flag?
James Dignan, 23 March 2016
I'll caveat this up front by saying that I don't have a definite answer on this ID, only additional speculation.
1) Could this object be less of a flag and perhaps more like a banner, maybe even advertising something? The general shape of it, as well as the way it seems to be attached to the window frame at the four corners looks more like some sort of commercial banner rather than a folded flag.
2) Could the design on the object be less inspired by national symbols and perhaps more indicative of symbols from numerology, astrology, tarot, or other forms of fortune-telling? The more I look at the symbols and try to find some sort of connection between the crescent and star, the arrow, the nine smaller stars in a specific configuration, and the
numeral "5" the more I keep coming back to numerology and astrology as the one common factor between them.
As I said, I really just have more speculation and questions than I do answers, but I wanted to put it out there for what it's worth. Thanks for humoring me!
Randy Young, 24 March 2016
Looks nothing like any astrological symbols I've ever seen or worked with - and certainly not Tarot related. It's possible, but I'd say highly unlikely.
James Dignan, 25 March 2016
The more I think about this flag, the more I think the combination of number, symbol (arrow), and star and crescent indicates some military unit. There is a Pakistani Air Force squadron called the Arrows, but unfortunately they're the 11th squadron, not the 5th. It could be a squadron of some middle-eastern air force, though, or something similar.
James Dignan, 25 March 2016
Could it be something like a Shriner's chapter flag? Another thought that occurs is that the arrow is just that: an arrow that point toward something and used as such.
Marc Pasquin, 27 March 2016
