WWII U.S. Army 783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot Unit Flag

The embroidered unit flag is a Model 1921 regimental flag for the 783rd Ordnance Battalion. In 1943 the Office of the Army Quartermaster General had ordered the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot to create U.S. Army unit flags with blank center shields that would later display the unit crest, together with blank scrolls where the unit’s designation and motto would later appear. These flags would be completed when a unit insignia and perhaps a motto had been formally approved. This flag, in crimson for an ordnance unit, was prepared in accordance with the 1943 directive from the Quartermaster General, with the distinctive insignia remaining blank. In fact, there were many units which never had a distinctive unit insignia approved during the war and, as such, those units had flags with blank shield on the eagle as is present on this flag. This double sided flag was used by the 783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company and it displays a superbly embroidered American eagle with unit designation. The 783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company was formed with the 83rd Infantry Division and it served throughout Europe in 1944 and 1945. The flag is constructed of a crimson silk blend that was commonly used during World War II and immediately thereafter. The flag is bordered with gold fringe.The sleeve of the flag contains an undated Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot tag. The flag measures approximately 3 feet by 4 feet in size and it retains its leather pole attachment tabs inside of the sleeve. The colors remain vibrant and the embroidery is unmarred. There is a single hole in the flag beneath center banner arc, with the hole being approximately 2 inches in length, but it is not at all readily observable and the flag makes a very impressive appearance. Overall a beautiful and scarce example of the flag of a United States Army unit which saw combat service in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.