I was looking at photos of the Halford during her inclining tests and I do not see colors, either Jack at the bow and ensign at the stern or ensign on the main mast. Navsource lists commissioning as 10-APR-43 and the date on the photos as 25-APR-43. So I assume that she was commissioned at the time the photos were taken. The photo source was Puget Sound Navy Yard.

Is a naval ship 'underway' while doing inclining tests?