FG-034 - USA 48-Star Flag (Defiance Brand, 1942

FG-034 – USA 48-Star Flag (Defiance Brand, 1942–1943)

Full view of 48-star US flag (WWII period, ca. 1942–43).

Flag ID: FG-034

General Description

48-star United States flag from the World War II era, manufactured by Annin & Co. under the Defiance brand. Authentication and dating confirmed by vexillologist David B. Martucci (vexman.net), based on material composition and hardware details. Production estimated to have occurred in 1942–1943.

📐 Technical Specifications

Parameter	Detail
Flag ID (FG)	FG-034
Country	United States of America
Star count	48
Period in use	1912–1959 (from admission of New Mexico & Arizona to Alaska)
Estimated production	1942–1943 (label type also seen in 1944)
Dimensions	4 × 6 ft (approx. 122 × 183 cm)
Material	Two-ply cotton bunting (Defiance brand)
Manufacturer	Annin & Co., New York / Verona, NJ
Finish	Cotton duck header with 2 steel grommets
Stars	Sewn/appliquéd, machine-stitched
Stripes	Individually sewn
Label	“Defiance – Reg. U.S. Pat. Off – Two Ply – Moth Proof”
Condition	Good, intact, minor wrinkling

Label Analysis

The attached Defiance label matches styles in use from approximately 1935–1943. This exact label is also documented on 1944 examples (Jeff Bridgman). The wording “Reg. U.S. Pat. Off – Two Ply – Moth Proof” aligns with WWII-era Annin production.

Grommet & Construction Details

Due to a wartime brass shortage, steel grommets replaced brass in American flag production from mid-1942 to early 1943. The presence of steel grommets restricts production to this specific period. Combined with the label type, these features support a high-confidence dating to 1942–1943.

Cross Reference – Mare Island Flag

Another 48-star flag, stenciled “MI 44,” was produced at Mare Island Navy Yard. That flag is a US Ensign No.12, typically used on PT boats, LCI, LCT and smaller naval vessels. It’s likely made of wool or heavy-duty cotton, and is clearly a military-issued flag. Compared to the Defiance version, the Mare Island type is heavier and features military stenciling.

Comparison Point	Defiance Flag	Mare Island Ensign
Use	Recruitment, ceremonial	Naval deployment
Material	Cotton bunting	Wool or heavy cotton
Label/Stamping	Printed label	MI stencil “44”
Size	4 × 6 ft	No.12 (approx. 17.5 × 32 in)

Use in WWII Recruitment

Between 1942 and 1943, mass-produced 48-star flags were supplied to recruitment centers, government offices, schools, and public events across the United States. Brands like Defiance allowed municipalities and agencies to acquire standardized cotton flags for patriotic display.

Period advertisements described these as “war ready, regulation size, all-cotton, moth-proofed.” Flags of this type were commonly used in photographs and ceremonies alongside posters like “Uncle Sam Wants You.”