It’s the usual problem with daily strips. They have to be drawn for either color or B&W. Once he filled the figures with black, that couldn’t be overridden by the coloring service. Considering that they probably wouldn’t have come up with orange anyway, probably the correct call.
Comics I Don't Understand 
This says it is a distress signal flag. Also says it should be orange.
https://www.boatus.org/study-guide/equipment/vds
(scroll down)
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Very good, C,AH! I’ve never seen that flag, on the few times I’ve rented a boat.
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It’s the usual problem with daily strips. They have to be drawn for either color or B&W. Once he filled the figures with black, that couldn’t be overridden by the coloring service. Considering that they probably wouldn’t have come up with orange anyway, probably the correct call.
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The flag should also be vertical.
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It’s the background, not the shapes, that are supposed to be orange.
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