Lot 272
U.S.S. Enterprise - Original Flag Flown on Ship, Sailor's Uniform & Papers. A rare United States Flag that was originally flown on the U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6, the World War II aircraft carrier, one of only three documented flags known to have flown on the Enterprise (the other two are owned by the U.S.S. Enterprise Association and by a private company in Scottsdale, Arizona). Our flag, measuring 5 feet. 5 inches by 9 feet 9 inches, was obtained from the family of Seaman First Class Raymond Clinton Boose, who served on the U.S.S. Enterprise from July 26, 1944 until November 13, 1945. The Enterprise Flag was given to Boose when he transferred off of the Enterprise in November 1945. Along with the Enterprise flag are Boose's Navy outfit top, sailor's hat, blue woolen winter overcoat, spats, U.S. Navy ID card, discharge card and paper, candid photos, Navy handbook ("How to Survive on Land and Sea"), a thank-you letter from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, a Navy Department letter authorizing Boose to wear a Navy Unit Commendation riibbon, all accompanied by a sworn affadavit from Boose's grandson. In addition to these original materials, numerous copies of records pertaining to Boose's service are provided. We have added copies of four photographs taken by Benjamin Maycheck, Chief Naval Photographer of the U.S.S. Enterprise: one of the Enterprise at sea with planes on the deck, one showing the ceremony for a sailor who has been killed and whose body is about to be committed to the deep, one of Admiral Halsy with the Enterprise citation, and one listing all of the Enterprise's citations (the most of any ship during World War II).
Boose served on board the U.S.S. Enterprise during the following engagements: Attacks on Luzon and enemy shipping in the Philippine Islands (21 Oct.-19 Nov. '44); Attack on Yap Island (22 Nov. '44); Occupation and defense of Luzon. Attacks on Nansie Shoto, Formosa, Hong Kong and French-Indo China (19 Feb.-9 Mar. 1945); Attacks on Kyushu and Japanese Empire (18-19 Mar. & 13-14 May 1945); Occupation and defense of Okinawa (8-13 Apr. & 7-12 May 1945). Boose was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, American Theater Presidential Unit Citation and Victory Medals. He also received a special commendation from Captain Grover B.H. Hall of the Enterprise for "splendid and brave performance of duty under prolonged air attack on 20 March 1945 in Japanese waters while attached to the U.S.S. Enterprise"; a copy of the Navy record mentioning this commendation is included. To truly appreciate this superb lot, interested parties should examine it in person.
The affadavit from Boose's grandson describes an incident which may have been the reason Boose was given the flag when he was transferred from the Enterprise: "In March of 1945 my grandfather was stationed as a lookout on the bridge of the Enterprise during attacks on Kyushu and the Island of Japan. During these engagements a Japanese aircraft dropped a 500 pound bomb on the flight deck just below the tower. This explosion knocked my grandfather backward landing on top of Enterprise Captain Grover B.H. Hall." Both the captain and the sailor survived with quite a memory!
Estimated Value $20,000 - 30,000.
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