A US flag flown above one of the landing craft used to storm Omaha Beach on D-Day could make in excess of $25,000 at Heritage Auctions on December 11.
It originates from LCT-A 2227, which landed at the eastern end of the beach in the sector codenamed Dog Green on June 6, 1944.
 The US flag is discoloured by diesel smoke |
The craft was carrying three tanks and a squad of demolition experts, all of whom made it safely on to the beach.
The ship itself was damaged in a mortar assault, but managed to limp back to Britain.
This flag was taken as a souvenir after the assault by US ensign Victor Hicken, who later became a history professor.
It has been discolored by diesel smoke but remains in otherwise good condition given its age.
Hicken described the experience in an interview with writer Joseph Balkoski: ''We went in right in front of the bow of the battleship Texas when it fired a full salvo.
"It was just like a giant door slamming and it really shook me up. You could actually see the shells flying through the air toward the shoreline."
Earlier this year a US flag from the first craft to arrive on the Normandy coast that day made $514,000 at Heritage Auctions.
This lot lacks the historical gravitas of that flag, but is still likely to sell for around double its opening bid.
A scarf knitted by Queen Victoria for a soldier of the Boer war will also feature in the sale - discover that fascinating story here.
