POW Flag
This unique Prisoner of War flag has an interesting story.
Overview
Paul Spain, Joe Victoria and Eddie Lindros were ordered to burn the American flag that was flying over an air base at Del Monte on Mindanao in 1942 to prevent its capture by the Japanese. Before the flag was destroyed they decided to remove the 48 stars and hide them. For the next 42 months, the three men were moved to several different prisoner of war camps and eventually taken to Japan on a “hell ship.” During this time they concealed the stars in their clothes, barracks and a steel factory. In the days before their liberation they sewed together a new flag using a rusty nail for a needle, an old sewing machine, parachute material and the stars they had saved. The new flag was flying over the camp when American troops arrived on 7 September 1945.
