Surface Force

Didn't surprise me that you'd catch that item.

An interesting follow up to what you mention above. Watching some of the WW2 auctions on militaria from that era, I'd see that same rating in scarlet. Threw me for a loop, kind of figured maybe someone was pawning off some replica.

Anyway, after digging into it, there was quite a rating system for all the differing jobs on a merchantman. I found, then have lost again, a great website that had a good write up on the ratings, there insignia and the whole near naval set up of that service.

Quite a read.

Have sailed a bit in the smaller US cruise vessel fleet and still the companies still use that insignia with the Purser/Stewards/Deck & Engineers.

Best Regards,

MastersMate - The name of one of the original "Warrant" specialties with the U.S.N. and the Revenue Cutter Service.

http://www.usmm.org/usms.html

Best Wishes and Sail Safe,
Surface Force
3/M, Unlimited, Oceans.

While discussing this rating. Do you know when the steward and bakers rating was combined over to MS. By the way I am eating this stuff up Good stuff. I guess only history buffs enjoy this kind of discussing on Naval history

For the Stewards and Commissaryman, their merger came in 1975 to form the Mess Management Specialist. In 2004 the rating was re-named Culinary Specialist (CS) back to one of the pre 1975 abbreviations. About 1974 the Coast Guard merged the Steward & Commissaryman into the Subsistance Specialist (SS)


There is a great reference out there called " U.S.NAVY RATING BADGES, SPECIALTY & DISTINGUISHING MARKS" bu John Stacey. I was able to find a copy and it has all the ratings up to 1982. The origin and authorization.

The Aviation Electricians Mate was established in 1943. In his book he has a reference that the mark showed up in a catalog back in 1918 in anticipation of the rating, but it never got started. Great stuff that can set a hook into you very easily.

There is a fellow that has a fantastic site with the history of old Navy ratings and rank. He has a link back on either the first or second page of this topic.

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Thank you thank you Masters Mate Also I greatly appreciate the AE rating establishment date. You know I am eating this stuff up!!

We'll let those of the Airedale persuasion do a little head and azz scratchin to figure out the backround of this one.

well its definatley avaiation the middle is quartermaster so we know there is no such thing as a Aviation Quartermaster. So I am thinking of a WWII era badge with the enlisted aviators so is it a enlisted navigator

Actually there WAS an Aviation Quartermaster rating, and the above rating badge is exactly that. 1918 or so, back when enlisted personnel were called up to fly.

Bummer I was so so close. Did mention aviation quartermaster and enlisted flyers but wrong era. Wow that did get my airdale azz scratching and head scratching

The Mineman put the date on it. The Quartermaster, Aviation was the forefather to the enlisted pilots. From references, the rating was envisioned as the "pilot" on the airships, but as the airplane evolved, they eventually became the AP (Aviation Pilot).

Here's one that should get the "pedigree" of the airedales in an uproar. From the web site providing the info, the specialty mark was worn from 3rd to chief, but never officially authorized.

The first AO's of the Navy. Aviation Gunners Mate. I had to look it up, but I found a good site of info on it.

http://www.aaoweb.org/AAO/History/

You found their web site, what a great bit of history they AOs put together. I got another one to post up in a bit that might get everyone stumped for a bit. Take me a while to find where I filed it.

Found it.

Thurs PM
HMMMMMM Can smell brain tissue getting sizzled, we might have a stumper here.

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The Aviation Rigger, it was the second mark used by the enlisted pilots in the early 1920s. Not sure what it represents, but I am taking a guess that it was/is part of the cable system that kept the bi-planes together , or a part of the steering control rigging.

There was an Airship rigger in WW2 that kept the blimps in order.

Could it be a early form of the AMS rating since AMS and AMHs work on servos and the cabling forthe aelerons, rudder, flaps and landing gear?

Throw a little bit of a curve at you.

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quote:

Originally posted by MastersMate:
Throw a little bit of a curve at you.

Looks like a big nose with glasses.

I sent you the answer in a private message.

Chief,
For some reason I didn't have the private msg section enabled. The abbreviation for the rating would be SMM (Sailmakers Mate).

Big nose & glasses an earlier one I drew up someone called it Mickey Mouse

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Try another one, this time it is a specialty.

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The big nose & glasses - that would be the SAILMAKERS MATE.

The diamond shape ( which is also the insignia of the Army Finance Corp) was the specialty mark used by the Warrant Officer specialty, SAILMAKER.

Have to look and see if I can chase down any more old Navy insignia.

Excerpts of a comment from Navy veteran SOG3 earlier this summer:

"I was told I had passed the test to SO3........ Then when I got out, it was changed to SOG 3. No reason when asked about. Thought it was a secret."

While checking on some other information, I found a small item to answer your question. In March 1959 the general rating of SONARMAN was broken into some specialized service ratings.
SOA ( Sonarman Aviation )
SOS ( Sonarman submarine)
SOG ( Sonarman Surface)

If you still poke in here from time to time, hope this little bit helps.