1657

202ND COAST ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL COLORS.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
202ND COAST ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL COLORS.

3’ x 4’ double applique embroidered on red field, with crest and motto: “ARTE ET ARMIS”, “by Skill & Arms”. Old Ft. Dearborn blockhouse is embroidered above eagle’s head reflecting history of Chicago and unit’s origin, circa WW2. As with other coast artillery units, this regiment had a convoluted beginning with numerous designation changes through its career and long relationship with the state of Illinois. In March 1921, the 6th Illinois Infantry was converted to the 1st Antiaircraft Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps. In December 1921, the unit was redesignated as Provisional Battalion, 202nd Artillery (Antiaircraft) but was soon redesignated as the 202nd Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft), Coast Artillery Corps. Then, in August 1924, the unit was reflagged as the 202nd Coast Artillery Regiment (Antiaircraft)(Mobile).
In September 1940, the unit was called into Federal service in Chicago before being sent to Fort Bliss, Texas later in the month. Its third battalion was activated in June 1942 at Bremerton, Washington. However, in September 1943, the regiment was broken up and its component units reflagged as the following: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery as the HHB, 202nd Antiaircraft Artillery Group; 1st Battalion became the 768th Antiaircraft Gun Battalion; 2nd Battalion became the 396th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion; and the 3rd Battalion became the 242nd Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion.
This flag dates 1924-1942 as “202nd Coast Artillery” Regiment only existed those years.
The flag is scarlet, the official artillery color and within the eagle the unit crest is placed. Above the eagle’s head is a wooden blockhouse reflecting the history of Chicago via old Fort Dearborn, a post built in 1803 along the Chicago River that was attacked in 1812 by Potawatomi Indians and the post destroyed.
CONDITION: good overall, colors fine with some light fading, some reductions & holes above motif in red field. (02-17547-23/JS). $600-800.