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Normandy, Omaha Beach Escort Flagship - USS Frankford (DD 497). ...
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$3,500.00
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Description
Normandy, Omaha Beach Escort Flagship - USS Frankford (DD 497). USS Frankford (DD-497), a Gleaves-class destroyer commissioned in 1943. She is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the privateer captain John Frankford who skippered the 14-gun ship Belvedere during the Quasi-War with France, 1798 to 1800.This is an approximately 42" X 80" wool bunting, double applique starfield, sewn stripe US Ensign, size 9, Navy contract flag made by the Dettra Flag Co., of Oaks, PA. It is finished with a canvas header and four metal war time grommets. The flag is marked on the upper obverse hoist, "DETTRA FLAG CO. INC US ENS 9" and on the upper reverse hoist, "USNS FRANKFORD DD497."
After training and coastal escort duty, Frankford made three trans-Atlantic voyages to screen convoys in 1943. In early 1944 she resumed escort screening and anti-submarine patrols while training for Operation Neptune, the maritime component of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe. She departed for Europe in April and continued escort duty until June 5th.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, the Frankford, the flagship of DESRON 18, the Escort Group (124.7) in Task Force "O," was assigned to Red and Fox beaches on the east side of Omaha Beach. After escorting the transports, Frankford provided naval gunfire support for the foundering assault forces of the first wave on Omaha Beach. The Frankford's aggressive action of putting her bow into the sand less than 900 yards from the shore in order to silence German gun emplacements by herself might have turned the tide of the Omaha landing - and, possibly, the whole Normandy invasion, as her action inspired other allied ships to close in on Omaha to provide more accurate support. In addition, the Frankford along with rescuing survivors of mined ships and downed pilots, drove off enemy E-boat attacks and, aside from two one-day voyages to Plymouth for stores and fuel, Frankford remained on duty of the French coast until mid-July.
After D-Day the Frankford sailed for the Mediterranean to support the invasion of southern France where she again engaged German torpedo boats, sinking three and capturing one, before returning to New York for an overhaul. She then patrolled the Eastern Seaboard until January 1945 when she was tasked with screening the cruiser Quincy, carrying FDR to the Yalta Conference. She was then sent to the Pacific Theatre, arriving at Pearl Harbor in August, just in time to participate in Japanese Occupation duties.
A D-Day collector should seize this opportunity to acquire an ensign from one of the most important and unheralded ships at Omaha Beach.
For her WWII Service the Frankford was awarded the American Defense Service Medal with the Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Condition: The ensign is in good condition, with only minor deficits, wear and tear, and some splitting on the fly.
This flag was formerly in the collection of Dr. Clarence Rungee, and is accompanied by his original museum inventory sheet with identifying information.
Auction Info
2020 June 6 Historic Flags of WWII and other Historic Flags Signature Auction - Dallas #6226 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2020
6th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 11
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,529
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 12.5% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
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