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Sale 76
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Lot 124
Japanese Officer's Silk Flag Captured on Iwo Jima. Captured by U.S. Marine Emery Schwartz, 2nd Tank Battalion on Feb. 27, 1945. The flag is 41½ inches in length and 29½ inches wide, framed in a clear fiberglass frame to 45½ inches by 36¼ inches wide. Before going to war, Japanese soldiers would often have friends and family sign flags, which they would then fold and put them in their helmets. Numerous people signed on the white background of this flag around the red Japanese sun. English translation of some of the writing on the flag is "Congratulations for Joining the Army," "Good Long Life / Neighbors & Friends," "Do Your Best / Kill Enemies," "Good Luck Long Life," etc. Framed with the flag is the translation, along with images of Marines firing on Mt. Suribachi, the American flag being raised on Mt. Suribachi and of "Marine 'Zipp' Sherman Tank with Flame Thrower." Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the U.S. Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi is one of the most iconic images of the war.
The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought from Feb. 19-Mar. 26, 1945, and included some of the fiercest fighting of the War in the Pacific. It was the first time that the Americans invaded Japanese home territory, and the island was heavily fortified by the Japanese, who were determined to fight to the death. The island provided an air base for Japanese fighter planes to intercept long-range B-29 Superfortress bombers, and was used by the Japanese to stage air attacks on the Mariana Islands. The American plan was to capture Iwo Jima, eliminating these problems and provide a staging area for the invasion of the Japanese Home Islands, known by the code name Operation Downfall. Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi planned to inflict such massive casualties on the Americans invading Iwo Jima that the Allies would reconsider carrying out Operation Downfall. Japanese casualties consisted of most of the 22,000 defending the eight-mile square island. American casualties were 26,000. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000
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