The picture of the flag that Charles Brown posted has the middle star pointing just about straight up, if it weren't for the numbers 386 on the flag how would one know what is the top or bottom of the flag without using the middle star pointing up. The hoist would only give you what is left side of the flag. Take the bottom of the hoist and make it the top of the hoist and the middle star would be pointing down. I'm only talking about CBF's that have no honors or no markings of any kind. So from this I would say the middle star has something to do with orientation of the flag.