Paul wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:54 pm
(It was never officially the flag of the USA though)
I was deliberately careful not to say that, but it is actually considered the first flag of the United States and the first navy ensign of that country (which was predominantly what "national" flags were for in those days, to identify ships at sea). It was first flown on the sloop
Alfredin the Delaware River in December 1775 and was later hoisted outside Boston during the siege of 1775-1776. It was only replaced in late 1777 when Congress passed the Flag Act, substituting the field of 13 white stars on a dark blue field for the original Union canton, although the stripes could include blue, as well as red and white. The only real difference from the EIC flag was that the latter could have anything from 9 to 15 stripes.
Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit den Würfeln. (No plan survives the first contact with the dice.)
Baron Mannshed von Wreckedoften, First Sea Lord of the Bavarian Admiralty.