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Normandy Flagship - Task Force E - Gold and Juno Beaches - HMS Belfast. ...
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Sold on Jun 6, 2020 for:
$2,750.00
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Description
Normandy Flagship - Task Force E - Gold and Juno Beaches - HMS Belfast. HMS Belfast, a Town-class light cruiser commissioned in 1939, is the first Royal Navy warship to be named for the capital city of Northern Ireland. She is currently a museum ship, moored on the Thames in London, UK.This flag is a jack, a flag of national character, flown at the bow when at anchor or moored, or dressing ship, and elsewhere under special circumstances. All the commissioned warships of the Royal Navy wear this jack. The Belfast's jack is a wool bunting, 30" X 52", dye printed flag finished with a roped canvas header and Inglefield clips. The jack is marked on the obverse hoist, "3 BDS 671-4527" and "PORTER BROS LTD, LIVERPOOL" and "รก [illegible]." On the obverse fimbriation in the fourth quarter is written, "6 - '44 NORMANDY."
The Belfast was a new ship at the commencement of WWII. She began her service training, escorting battleships, supporting neutrality patrols and gunnery exercises. In November, she struck a mine and was taken out of service for reconstruction and upgrades until mid-summer 1940 when she returned to the fleet as the flagship for Arctic convoy duty. In December of 1943 she participated in the night Battle of North Cape and operations against the German battleship Scharnhorst.
In 1944, Belfast participated in Operation Tungsten against Germany's last battleship Tirpitz, before a refit in preparation for Operation Neptune, the maritime component of Operation Overlord. On June 6, 1944, Belfast was the flagship of Bombardment Force E, assigned to the Eastern Task Force, tasked with commanding the shelling the Gold and Juno Beaches, firing her first salvos at 5:30 A.M. at German batteries at Ver-sur-Mer, suppressing the guns until they were overrun by British infantry.
After Normandy, Belfast was overhauled for service in the Pacific. She joined the Royal Navy's Pacific Fleet in August of 1945 as the cruiser force flagship, but never saw combat due to the cessation of hostilities. She later served in Korea before her decommissioning and transformation into a museum ship.
The WWII Battle Honors of the HMS Belfast are: Arctic 1943, North Cape 1943 and Normandy 1944.
Condition: The jack of the Belfast is in good condition. It is used, worn, soiled and stained, but otherwise complete.
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: 7
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,073
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