This is a fun Blog about the Jolly Roger – the loveable Children’s Fable, the amazing Pirate Folklore, the dreaded Pirate Ships, Combat Jets and Space Fighters, and my awesome Galactic Pirate Merchandise.
The origin of the name, Jolly Roger, comes from the French phrase “Jolie Rouge” (pretty red) describing the early red combat flag.
A red flag signifies “no quarter” which means you are dead, matey! A black flag signifies “quarter” if the targeted ship surrendered.
Through the ages, to me, the Jolly Roger was first associated with J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan (Fairy Tale), then came the pirates of the high seas (Sea). then came the Phantom warplanes used in the Vietnam War and thereafter (Air), and lastly, the squadron in the 501st Legion (Space).
1 – FAIRY TALE
I first heard of Jolly Roger via J. M. Barrie’s 1904 play “Peter Pan“; or “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up”. The villain of the play is Captain James Hook whose pirate ship is named “Jolly Roger”. I thought what a cool ironic name: as in there’s nothing jolly for a dreaded pirate ship.
Captain James Hook’s “Jolly Roger” (above image).
2 – SEA
The “Jolly Roger” is the traditional black flag featuring a white skull and crossbones used by pirates during the 18th century to frighten ships into surrendering their cargo, captain, crew, ship and, most importantly, rum. The last surrendered item is my total speculation.
The French pirate, Emanuel Wynn, was first credited with using the first skull-and-crossbones design around 1700, which also featured an hourglass beneath the skull to show victims their time was running out.
Pirates flew false national flags until close to an enemy ship, then raised the black skull and crossbones flag to demand surrender. Royal Navy submarines have flown the “Jolly Roger” flag upon returning from successful combat patrols since World War 1.
First Authenticated Rare 18th Century “Jolly Roger” Flag In Existence – Blood Red Flag (above image).
Second Authenticated Jolly Roger Flag In Existence – 19th Century Barbary Pirate Flag (above image). On display at The Aland Maritime Museum in Finland.
1850 Jolly Flag Display At St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (above image).
3 – SKY
Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103) nicknamed “Jolly Rogers”, is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1952.
McDonnell Douglas F-4 “Jolly Rogers” Phantom II (above image).
Grumman F-14 “Jolly Rogers” Tomcat (above image).
4 – SPACE
The Jolly Roger Squadron (JRS) is the official global costuming detachment for Imperial starfighter and TIE pilots within the 501st Legion, the worldwide Star Wars fan-run organisation. They act as combat air support and pilots for “Vader’s Fist” (the 501st Legion) at charity events, conventions, and community gatherings.
The “Jolly Roger Squadron” pilots navigate the fast and agile fictional TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Starfighters.
TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Starfighter (above image).
As a lucky inducted official “Friend of the Legion” in 2016, I’m blessed to have access to the awesome “Jolly Roger Squadron” merchandise – racing shirts, T-shirts, challenge coins and patches; some which I feature below.
As a young lad, I belonged to the 2501 Orion Boy Scouts uniform group in school. Who would have thought, decades later, I’ll still be in a fun galactic pirate-themed uniform gang of do-good merrymakers!
My Denim Jacket Giant 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Back Patch (above image).
My Personalised 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Racing Shirt – Back (above image).
My Personalised 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Racing Shirt – Front (above image).
My 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Racing Shirt – Back (above image).
My 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Racing Shirt – Front (above image).
My 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Challenge Coins and Pin (above image).
My Battle-Worn 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Silver Ring – Top View (above image).
My Battle-Worn 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Silver Ring – Side View (above image).
My Battle-Worn 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Silver Ring – Side View (above image).
My 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Tie-Dye T-Shirt – Back (above image).
My 501st Legion “Jolly Roger Squadron” Tie-Dye T-Shirt – Front (above image).
EVERY NOW IS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!
And One More Thing:
Steve Jobs was famously known to have motivated his original 1983-84 Apple Macintosh team with the maxim, “It’s better to be a pirate than join the navy.”(above image).
