The Incredible Journey of Commodore Perry's Flag 1853 and 1946

[johnleeknoefler]

Commodore Perry's Flag 1853 and 1946
In July of 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry entered Tokyo Bay with a squadron of then modern warships flying this 31-star flag to secure a treaty with Japan. His success led to formal diplomatic ties, access of ports by American ships, aid for shipwrecked American sailors, commercial trade, and the opening of Japan to other Western nations.

Ninety-two years later, at the request of Perry's cousin, General Douglas MacArthur, the flag was transported from Annapolis, Maryland, to be on hand for the surrender ceremony of the Japanese ending World War II. The 9,500-mile trip took 120 hours and covered 12 time zones. The courier, who orders required him to keep the wooden box containing the flag in his sight at all times, slept with it, ate with it, and even took it with him in the bathroom. The flag had been on display at the museum at Annapolis where conservators had mounted cotton to its mildew damaged front side to prevent the flag from breaking apart and then mounted it backward to hide the damage. The flag case was mounted on the bulkhead of the Battleship Missouri overlooking the ceremony. After its 120 hour trip, the courier slept for two days missing the 25 minute ceremony.

Notice the irregular star field, a common feature in 19th century flags when there were no design standards. In this case, they apparently just stuffed the extra star into the first column to get 31 stars and the stars are all tilted to the left.

http://www.loeser.us/flags/wwii.html

Perry & the Trip to Japan

In 1852, at the command of the US government, Commodore Perry set out for the Far East at the head of a fleet of warships in order to compel Japan to open up to trade with the West. The result was the 1854 Convention of Kanagawa which established trade between the Empire of Japan and America, ending Japan's traditional policy of seclusion.

Read more here:http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gall...pan/index.html
Perry's flag is presently displayed on the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor near the USS Arizona.
At has been to Japan at least twice assuming it was not present on Commodore Matthew Perry's initial visit to Japan.

[Pogrom]

Awesome! I feel sorry for the courier!

[prax22a]

Huh. I had no idea that flag was present at the surrender.