Last modified: 2018-07-28 by pete loeser
Keywords: ufe | unidentified flags | 2013 |
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Below is a series of images of flags that have been provided to FOTW; some we have recognized, and some we have been unable to recognize. If you can help us identify any of these flags, please let us know! Contact the: UFE Editor.
Identification Key:
This Saudi Arabian flag has now been identified as a "Variant of the Civil Flag" and moved to its permanent location.
This flag is now located on the FOTW database as the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Image from James Dignan, 1 November 2014
I'm currently watching a football match on TV, live from Perth, Western Australia. Someone in the crowd is waving an interesting flag which looks like it may be an alternative design for a flag for Western Australia - anyone know anything about it? It's a red cross, fimbriated white, on a dark blue (or possibly black) background, with the state emblem of a black swan on a yellow disc in the centre.
James Dignan, 1 November 2014
Might this be a totally unofficial proposal for a state flag that isn't a British ensign?
John Ayer, 3 January 2015
#73a
# 73b [may be reversed]
Image from Martin Dix, 29 October 2014
I have these two flags, both say RN 32335 and 100 percent cotton. Could you give me any information on these flags. I was going to hang them in my garage, but if they were too nice to do that, then I would preserve them another way.
Jack Doyle, 29 October 2014
I am not sure what these flags are - at first I was going to say they look like decorative bunting, perhaps Brazilian and American, but then I noticed they had grommets so were meant to be hung like a flag, not draped decoratively.
Rob Raeside, 3 November 2014
I would like to have the dimensions of these flags to see whether they might be advertising pull-downs.
John Ayer, 3 January 2015
The text RN 32335 is given. The only flags I know to use that are Dettra flags [made by the Dettra Flag Company]. Not much help, I know, especially since I don't know what it means, but I contribute it here just in case that it might help finding more solid information.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 17 January 2015
I noticed that at UFE07-19, we have the same number RN32335. I should add that I've now found that Par Aide Products have/had this same code on their flags. However, I expect that they didn't make these flags themselves, but rather had them made by a flag company.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 15 April 2015
Image from Mark Rosenberg, 13 November 2014
I viewed your extensive site and found flags similar, but with white stars instead of gold. This came from the estate of a Vietnam fighter pilot whose father, Brig. Gen. Glen C. Jamison flew in WWII. Any idea about the color and placement of the stars on this one? My understanding is the Gold Star represents a KIA, but Brig. Gen. Jamison lived until 1973.
Mark Rosenberg, 13 November 2014
Here is a link to Brig. Gen. Glen C. Jamison's service history.
Mark Rosenberg, 13 November 2014
Image from Zaricor Flag Collection 13 November 2014
To add the two Euro cents I'm capable of contributing: I'd say that's indeed the officer's rank indicated. The Zaricor Flag Collection has, a U.S. Army Brigadier General Air Corps Flag, which has its charges in the same positions. Likewise the Army Brigadier General flag.
I think it's that emblem which would represent the Air Corps, while this one is actually for the Air Force, but I'll leave that to someone who understands American army. Anyway, the flags do seem to come in the same combinations of ranks and designs for the two, so US Air Force Brigadier General would seem to fit.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 13 November 2014
The winged star emblem (the 'Hap Arnold' wings) indicated this as the flag of a brigadier-general of the US Army Air Forces during World War II (as opposed to that of the pre-war US Army Air Corps which used a winged propeller emblem instead). As for the yellow star - maybe it was a manufacturer's mistake, or maybe it was a white star which got 'yellowed' as the flag aged... I cannot say for sure.
Miles Li, 15 November 2014
Just a completely off-the-wall question here, but is it possible that the USAAF rank flag with the gold star is actually intended to represent a brigadier general killed in action? The traditional white star would be replaced with a gold star similar to the blue stars being replaced with gold stars on Service Banners. Possible?
Randy Young, 30 November 2014
The lower star has some discolouration, but the upper one looks like it's close in colour to the wings. Can we derive something about the function of the flag from its size?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 8 April 2015
#75a
#75b
Image from Clay Moss, 14 November 2014
These are images drawn from illustrations sent to me by a merchant marine buddy. I'm after more details. Meanwhile, does anyone recognize them?
Clay Moss, 14 November 2014
Any luck so far? Is there any reason to think of Somalia, other than a star on light blue? Could they just be a red over yellowed white, over red with a faded lone star canton?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 24 April 2015
I have not heard back from my buddy since he sent the image. He sort of corresponds when he wishes, not necessarily in a timely manner. I tried downloading the image but could not. I did not think at the time to get a screen shot. Basically, from memory, the flag images were cartoon type drawings and were illustrated as flags in a parade. The over all image reminded me of the type of cartoonery drawn up by North Korean propaganda folks. Happy Somalis(?) march under the flags. There was also some writing in Arabic I think. The flags may only be imaginary.
Clay Moss, 25 April 2015
This flag has been identified as a version of the Anonymous Organization Medic Flag backed by an Anonymous Organization flag.
These flags were identified as vexi-vaporware versions of Anonymous Organization Flags of the Anonymous State of Massachusetts and Anonymous Iceland.
Image from Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
I've found this Iranian UFE from this picture taken on 1393-7-9 (Persian calendar) which belongs to this picture gallery. When I translate it, the following title comes: "World Assembly of Clerks Roqiyeh (R) Bint Al Hussein" Does anybodoy know if it's indeed a flag and what it stands for?
Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
Ruqayyah bint Husayn (transcriptions vary) was a young daughter of Imam Husayn ibn Ali who was present with him at the Battle of Karbila. For the Shi'ites, it is all very moving. What does the inscription in the circle on the flag say?
John Ayer, 3 January 2015
Image from Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
In this picture
from this source taken back in 2010, the green flag in the middle with red lettering is unidentified. Could it possibly be government related?
Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
It reads as "Ya Hussein", but I have no idea what it does mean.
Zoltan Horvath, 30 November 2014
May be something to do with "Ya Hussain"
Dirk Schönberger, 30 November 2014
It seems to be a religious prayer: "Ya Hussain is an Arabic phrase used by Shia Muslims to invoke the memory or intervention of Hussain ibn Ali. It is especially used in the context of the Mourning of Muharram."
I've also seen the following variants: Black background with red letters on Brian J. McMorrow Galleries and
White background with red letters on Ya Hussain Flag.
The explanation of the Iran Islam Shia Ya Husain Religious, Political and Military Flag is as follows: The inscript on the flag reads YA HUSAIN. He was the 3rd Imam of all Shia who was martyred in Karbala, Iraq, centuries ago and is a symbol for all Shias to raise against the Oppressors. The wording above YA HUSAIN is the Famous Hadith of Prophet Muhammad that reads: INNA-HUSAIN mISBAHUL-HUDA WA SAFINATUN-NAJAT that means "Husain is the Lighthouse of Islamic Guidance for the lost ships and the Rescue ship." Such flags are mostly used by Shia Political & Military Groups in Iran and Lebanon."
Source: Mecollectibles.com.
Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
Not quite sure if it is a religious phrase. Mourning of Muharram was the day Hussain was murdered (some kind of genesis story of Shiite vs. Sunnite muslims). Basically it means something like "Remember Hussein" (and forever don't be friend with his murderers). The event marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala when Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and a Shia Imam, was killed by the forces of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I at Karbala. Source: wikipedia "Mourning of Muharram".
Dirk Schönberger, 30 November 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
Can anybody identify this flag from this source. When I translate it it says "Vice President of Science and Technolgy".
Esteban Rivera, 30 November 2014
Speculative image from Zoltan Horvath, 7 December 2014
I created its flag image. The upper inscription is "Presidency of the Republic" and the lower one means: "Vice [Presidency] for Science, Technology and Innovation". I think it's definitely not a rank flag but an organizational one.
Zoltan Horvath, 7 December 2014
#81a
#81d
Esteban Rivera, 3 December 2014
On this al Jazeera's news report broadcasted today you can see a flag with several symbols of being Kurdish (if not supportive of a particular group, i.e. PKK, or the Kurdish Regional Government).
- Image #81a - a square flag, split into four equal areas where a red five-pointed star in the middle, with other colors related to Kurdish symbols (yellow and green), as seen on 1:27.
- Image #81d - a horizontal red flag, , with other colors related to Kurdish symbols (yellow and green), as seen on 1:29 onwards.
Esteban Rivera, 3 December 2014
Flag #81d is now identified and located on the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons page, but #81a remains unidentified.
Regarding #81a, it seems that there is a repetetive pattern for the flag to look like it has four quarters, when instead the star and its rays are repeated over and over in squares, to end up like the image in question. In fact, here's a picture showing one square flag with the same pattern. (source)
There are several images of this flag as follows:
Not actually a flag, but another example of the use of the "rose design" favored by some Socialist organizations.
Image from Jaume Ollé, 8 December 2014
When I visited the Blue Mosquee I can took a photo with the Turkey flag and two Unknown flags below it. Any ideas?
Jaume Ollé, 8 December 2014
For me, the second one on the right looks like a variant of the flag of Istanbul.
Olivier Touzeau, 9 December 2018
The blue flag is indeed one of the several flags used by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Ivan Sache, 25 July 2018
This flag has been identified as the Special Supply Center Army Units (EKEMS).
Indentified as the flag of the Athens General Military Hospital (GSNA).
Image from Sean Murphy, 9 December 2014
[Image cropped and flipped to put it into a more conventional orientation]
I'm trying to research a flag I've have for a very long time. It came from southern Ontario, likely Norfolk County, and Dominion Regalia couldn't determine for me what it was. I've had it 40 years, approximately, and I have no idea how long my uncle had it before me. Any advice you can give me on this is much appreciated.
Sean Murphy, 9 December 2014
I don't recognise this flag but the overall design looks vaguely nautical to me. I wonder if it might be the flag of a shipping line, although it is not one we currently list on FOTW.
Rob Raeside, 10 December 2014
Given the age of the flag, there is the possibility that it was created as one of the proposals for a new Canadian flag. If so, the ten red stripes (six horizontal and four vertical) probably represent the ten provinces of Canada and possibly the four vertical ones were intended to represent the Maritime Provinces.
Ernest Cline, 16 July 2015
Image from RM Walsh, 20 December 2014
This Flag appeared on the cover of the Magazine Vogue Bambini earlier in 2014. What is it?
RM Walsh, 20 December 2014
UFE14-87 is from the June 2014 issue of Vogue Bambini magazine. It seems that it is a rendering of a fictional flag prepared just for the photoshoot of some children's clothing. Here's a better image of the front cover of the magazine. Source: Vogue Bambini magazine.
Esteban Rivera, 29 December 2014
Quite a complex design. Fantasy medieval? Well, it's a recent issue, and they apparently are able to understand English as well. Poster might try identification method #1.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 30 December 2014