MovieChat Forums > Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) Discussion > Where Can You Find A Signalman When You ...

Where Can You Find A Signalman When You Need Him

posted 11 years ago by Cairo-5
2 replies | jump to latest

And why am I posting this to the Tora! Tora! Tora! board?

The second question is easily answered. I realize this issue relates to the classic TV series Victory At Sea, and that there are IMDb message boards both for the extended 26 episode series shown in 1952-53, and for the condensed movie version of 1954. I usually try to respect those arrangements and post to the appropriate board. However I’m prepared to make exceptions that I feel are reasonable.

In this case I’m throwing the inquiry out in hopes of getting some feedback. I suspect more people will see it here than on the other boards. If there must be a connection let it be in that the USS Missouri (BB-63) is now berthed in Pearl Harbor near the Arizona Memorial.

My question concerns a particular signal flag. It can be seen in the 1954 condensed version but not, surprisingly, in the full sized series that I have on DVD. I would have thought it would be the other way around, and that whatever was shown in the condensed version would certainly be in the much longer version.

The signal flag in question can be seen at 6:50 to 6:54 at this link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sm96uOt0Bw

It’s a black flag with a white V that extends from the two upper corners of the flag to the bottom center. My question: what flag is this? It’s not on any list of navy signal flags I’ve ever seen. Not as an alphabetical letter, or a number, or any other symbol.

In the film it appears in the sequence relating to the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945. What is implied, but not stated, is that the flag was flying on the Missouri during the surrender ceremony. It also seems to suggest that the “V flag” was a declaration that victory had been achieved in this great war. At least that’s what I think I’m seeing in the scene.

So I’m wondering, was this in fact the meaning? And if this was not a conventional flag, was it specially prepared for the occasion? Does anyone know anything about this flag?

***
It's easier to be an individual than a god.

[–] CGSailor 11 years ago

I cannot find any mention or image of the flag. It certainly is not in any image of USS Missouri in Tokyo bay.

In all likelihood, it was a handmade flag, created by the crew for celebrating the victory over the Japanese and is just that... a "V for Victory" flag. They were just using a home made flag with a V rather than the official White square with a red X.

Probably meant for a homecoming where there would be a lot of civilians and family who wouldn't necessarily understand that Big red X meant V for Victory.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] Cairo-5 11 years ago

I took another, closer look at the flag scene. In the montage that is Victory At Sea the scene is definitely a separate film clip that is sandwiched between the clips of the Japanese surrender ceremony and the following clip filmed in Europe of Holocaust victims.

So there is no telling where or when the flag clip was filmed. The movie itself segues so smoothly from surrender scene to flag scene, and the background music is so perfect, that both clips look like components of the same event. Give five stars to whoever did the editing.

Sailors, and others I suppose, are certainly capable of creating homemade flags. At RTC Orlando in 1970 every company in the final phase of training had to design and make its own special flag. I expect you had the same experience in the 1990’s. Not everyone has the talent for that kind of thing but the assumption was that given the size of a company there were bound to be two or three people who could do it. I certainly wasn’t one of them, but the guys who did ours came up with a really great flag of a ship sailing on a sea where the rippling waves spelled out the abbreviated names of every state that had a man in our company.

So yes that V flag could certainly have been homemade. I hope it was preserved with respect and honor.

***
It's easier to be an individual than a god.