Serapis Battle Flag Patch

The Serapis Battle Flag has a storied and confusing history.  There are several versions of events that occurred before and after the Battle of Flamborough Head on 23 September 1779, but we will recount the most likely version.   As the story goes, Commodore John Paul Jones was in Paris visiting the American ambassador to France, Benjamin Franklin.  Franklin had been queried for a description of the American flag from French and Dutch officials so they could inform their ships at sea what to look for.  Franklin drew a sketch for the officials, and had a flag made, which he gave to Jones. Jones then flew this flag from his flagship, the USS Bonhomme Richard.   On patrol in the North Sea on 23 September 1779 Commodore Jones in the Bonhomme Richard engaged the 44 gun British frigate, HMS Serapis. During the fierce battle, the Richard and Serapis became entangled side to side and proceeded to blast holes in each other, one shot blowing the main mast and flag from the Richard into the water