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Why Does This US Warship Fly a Jolly Roger?
Strange naval traditions
If you ever see the destroyer USS Kidd coming into port after a long deployment, you might be treated to an odd sight — a modern warship flying a massive Jolly Roger from the back. The Jolly Roger has long been associated with piracy and death. During World War I and World War II, the Jolly Roger often adorned submarines due to their piratical nature. If you saw a destroyer flying a Jolly Roger in the 17th or 18th centuries, you would unfurl your sails and turn hard in the opposite direction.
Generally, there are strict rules about what flags and adornment ships can sport, and the Jolly Roger is not on the approved list of flags for United States warships. So why is the USS Kidd an exception? Is it simply because it shares a name with an infamous pirate? Not quite. The reason that the Kidd is allowed to fly the Jolly Roger is tragic, and it has its roots in World War II lore.
The Original USS Kidd
On December 7th, 1941, Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd was the commander of Battleship Division One — the division stationed at Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese Zeroes came screaming out…
