WWII Rear Admiral George Henderson Landing Signal Flag LSO Carrier Makin Okinawa

Description

Extremely rare LSO
( LANDING SIGNALS OFFICER )
Escort Carrier Aircraft Landing and Take Off Signal Flag of WWII Rear Admiral George R. Henderson ship Makin for the invasion of Okinawa from the collection of Rear Admiral Arleigh Burke.
This flag belonged to Rear Admiral Arleigh Burke who himself had a distinguished WWII career and was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1955. He sold it in a 1970's military auction. Burke served an unprecedented three terms as Chief of Naval Operations during a period of growth in the Navy. This important flag was donated to raise money for a military fund. I have his original auction donation card for this WWII  flag. Many officers donated to these auctions as the proceeds benefitted the troops during the Vietnam War.
US Navy aircraft carriers of WW2 launched and recovered planes in the same "scarf in the wind, seat of the pants" style used by the airmen flying those old warbirds. Landing Signals Officers guided planes back onto "the boat" visually from platforms outboard of the flight deck, using yellow and orange "paddles" in outstretched hands. The LSOs were usually qualified aviators themselves, and they knew that a pilot's life depended on their skill in assisting safe landings. If brought in too low, the plane would crash onto the heaving deck, with catastrophic results; brought in too high, and the plane would overshoot into the sea, and in the path of the oncoming ship. Landing Signals Officers wore distinctive yellow cotton flight deck helmets for easy recognition by returning pilots.