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The pennant is one those made for General Mitchell's aircraft and to attached to a strut of his airplane for identification during the 1921 Battleship Trials. One his most famous aircraft was a deHaviland DH-4, called the “Osprey.” Accounts of the test bombings describe the General’s piloting of his own plane while directing the operation of the bomber and refer to the Pennant whipping form the strut during those flights. This particular penant had not been used extensively, if at all, for the flight because flying would have resulted in fraying it.

Display Status

This object is on display in World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation

Object Details

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

MEMORABILIA-People

Physical Description

Red pennant with one white star, 11 1/2 in. X 45 5/8 in.

Dimensions

2-D - Unframed (H x W): 29.2 × 115.9cm (11 1/2 in. × 3 ft. 9 5/8 in.)
Display: 119.4 × 31.7 × 8.9cm (3 ft. 11 in. × 1 ft. 1/2 in. × 3 1/2 in.)

Materials

Wool

Inventory Number

A19550112000

Credit Line

Donated by Alfred V. Verville

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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