Invasion Armband Flag

These invasion armband flags are museum quality reproductions of the flags worn by American troops as early as November 1942  during Operation Torch (Invasion of North Africa) but were most notably worn during Operation Dragoon (Invasion of Southern France), Operation Market Garden (Invasion of Holland), and Operation Varsity (Invasion of Germany).  These flags were used as a means of identifying American troops to local civilians during an invasion.  Originally issued as a 17.25" (approx.) long armband with 2 steel safety pins, many troopers chose to fold or cut the armbands to make them smaller and pin them directly to the sleeve of there uniform. 

These "version 1" reproductions are cut to match the length of the original armband flag, holes are punched to match the pattern/size of the holes on the original, and includes 2 steel safety pins that are the same size as the originals.

Unlike other reproductions that are printed on synthetic plastic fabric (or other unauthentic material), these flags are printed on real cotton oil cloth canvas.  These reproductions were created using a scan of an original invasion flag which was used for Operation Market Garden and matches the size, color, weight, and feel of the original flag armbands.  These flags will come with 2 steel safety pins which is exactly how they were issued during the war.  

The colors or this armband are printed to match the "unissued" condition of the original flags.  These reproductions look the same way they did in 1944.  In other words they are bleach white, dark blue, and orangish red.  As you can see in the comparison photos on this listing, the original flag's colors have aged and faded over the last 78+ years.  The white portion of original flags have faded to yellow, the dark blue has lightened to a sky blue, and the red stripes have faded to orange.  

Note that the original armband flags were made by at least 10 different companies during the war and each company had slight variations from one another to included slightly different color shades, slightly different size/shape stars, and slightly different size/location of the punched holes. These reproductions were made to match this particular original armband exactly but this original pattern may vary slightly from other originals in your collection for the reasons listed above. 

These flags will be shipped rolled up and secured with a rubber band to avoid unwanted creases in the material.  When unrolled, these flags will want to curl and roll back up but once they are laid out for a few days they will flatten out.  Flags can be ironed to flatten them more quickly but if done at too high of a temperature this could damage the material.  This seller will not be responsibility for flags damaged by ironing, aging, or any other process imposed upon them by the buyer