List of "lost" ratings?

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[Salty68]

Might not be a bad idea to list what ratings were lost.  Here's a start:

Fire Control Tech, Radarman, Sonar Tech, Radioman, Boiler Tender, Engineman, Machinists Mate, Quartermaster, Steward's Mate.....

What did I miss?

Hey Gunny, when I got off the Blackhaw at Subic Bay, the SonarMan was named Perry SM2.......In 1965 I ran-in to him at the Wild Boar Tavern here in Tampa, FL.. He was attending the University of South Florida here...His father was the CEO of United Airlines back then.....

[BuoyJumper]

Dana,

Here is an interesting set of Dress Blues with BM1 Crow and liberty piping presently on Ebay.  Unfortunately this is the only photo they have of the uniform.  My question is:  I've never seen a secondary patch worn above the CG Shield on the right sleeve.  Do you have any idea what that might be?

[MastersMate]

With only two cup of coffee in me so far this AM will give a blurry eyed stab at it.

The rating badge may be a Motor Machinists Mate. A bit blurry but it looks like a propeller with the letter MO on either side of the top blade. If it is, that particular mark was in service from 1942 thru 1948, when the present Engineman/MK gear face came into effect. That should date the uniform.

A Distinguishing mark is shown above the CG shield. That particular mark LOOKS like the one for expert rifle/pistol shot.  There is a well circulated photo of Douglas Munro, showing the right sleeve with a SM3 crow and ,I think,that same mark.

GJD mentioned once that they were still awarded as late as 1960 +/-.

Before all these breast insignia on that coat uniform, distinguishing marks were specialty qualifications worn by the white hats on either sleeve to show any special qualifications.  The CG shield is called the CG distinguishing mark in the 1930 uniform regs.

I read that the USN shifted to metal breast insignia with their shift to a coat & tie uniform in the 1970s. The sew on marks were not presentable with the style of the new uniforms.

A bit long winded, but maybe a help.

[BuoyJumper]

New Item on ebay this morning ...
looks to be a WWII era Pharmacist's Mate 3rd class but I don't see the little black "X" stitch on the red cross.



View Uniform

[BuoyJumper]

Dana, USCG? ... USLSS?  Got an idea of what it is?



View Item On Ebay

[BuoyJumper]

Dana, I saw this on ebay this morning .. don't know if you have any interest but here it is.

 

1942 Guide U.S.NAVY,USMC,COAST GUARD INSIGNIA 180 illustrations

[MastersMate]

Time to warm up the coffee mug and dig into these.

The Pharmacists Mate - the sewn "X" in the center seems to be from the discretion of the manufacturer . Different photos show both styles. A couple even had the cross outlined. The specialty mark changed to the cadeuseus in 1948..

The officers cap. U.S.N. and probably from about 1898 through early 1920s. That design is very similar to the "Bell" cap that is traditionally worn by firefighters.  The bullion eagle, shield and crossed anchors became the Navy officers cap insignia back about 1868 or so. The eagle is facing to its left (called sinister). In 1940 the direction was changed to face its right ( called Dexter). This had to do with rules of heraldry and the eagle facing the sword arm. An offshoot also was that the enlisted rating badges had the direction of the eagle changed so that either arm would have the eagle facing forward, towards the enemy.

When looking at older uniforms with rating badges, if the crow is on the left arm, see which way the eagle is facing. If it is looking towards the back it is pre 1940 style.

The booklet - picked one up on eBay similar to that a couple of years ago. What was really cool, I managed to get a complete 1943 volume of the National Geographic. That year it featured the CG in Greenland and on patrol in WW2. Also 3 of the issues produced a special on insignia, decorations, uniforms on WW2. It has been a great aid in tracking down a lot of stuff.

The CPO anchor has been a real interest. Until WW2, the anchor and shield was fouled with twisted wire to form a hawser, rather than the chain stamped into the design today. The shield was a slightly different design. The latch pin on the back had different latch catchers. And those little dots outlining the anchor itself were a part of the WW2 design.


Coffees getting cold, heading back to the kitchen. This may be too long winded this early in the AM

[BuoyJumper]

Interesting Coast Guard uniform on ebay this morning.  It appears to be AET2 dress blues but there is no white CG shield on the right forearm.  But on the right shoulder it is cleary marked where USN sailors would sew on their ship's name, Coast Guard with a red-white-blue shield under it.

Never seen one like this before ...  

Front Uniform View
Right Shouder View

[MastersMate]

Engaged in a major brain fart right now, but is the the color guard ????? from HQ ????

[BuoyJumper]

Engaged in a major brain fart right now, but is the the color guard ????? from HQ ????

Beats me Dana .... I've never seen anything remotely like that before.
I guess it could be HQ color guard if it is different than the Honor Guard Patch.

                                 

[CGRDCS]

Those are the "Honor Guard" Patches.  Why no white shield on the sleeve, I don't know.

When I was a Boot at the Cape, both recruit band and honor wore them on their sleeves.

When I returned to Cape may as an Instructor, both the recruit band an Honor Guard  (Charlie Company) wore them.

I don't know what  Cape may wears noe, I know the HONOR GUARD in DC wears them.

It could be that a set were "loaned" and worn to spice up the uniform.  Still don't know why no white shield.????????\\


Hawk

[EX-CG-GM]

It looks possible that the sleeve is rotated a bit and has a fold that makes the shield invisible from that angle the pic was taken.

[MastersMate]

Stan, I think you got it. Take a close look at the photo showing the collar and right sleeve. Down towards the cuff there appears to be just s bit if a "bump out" that could be the edge of the shield patch.

Here's a view of a BM1 & YN1 SPAR from the '64 Worlds Fair in Queens, NY

[rustybayonet]

Answer to reply #69

The "Honor Guard" patch shown is taken from the medal "President Honor Guard" shield or pin issued to members of the Honor Guard.  The one with the black background is a photo of the one I have on the back of a jacket that I submitted to this site about 1 year ago.  A large patch was made and some of the prior and probably current Honor Guard members can wear it along with Honor Guard insignia baseball caps.  I had a patch added to the front of mine with the Honor Guard crest and the years I served on the original Honor Guard - 1962-1963, along with being a member of the original drill team - and yes I am an "Old Fart".

[MastersMate]

Here's one that I recently got confirmed. Have had real good "mess deck" intel, but finally saw it in black & white. A short lived rating from the early - mid 1960s. Cape May fans from that time will remember these guys .