I've had this uniform since I was about 14 years old, nearly 18 years ago; dosen't seem possible. It cost 25 pounds and I think the rank board's were seperate so they don't belong to the uniform and I would imagine of a the modern era.
When it comes to smart looking uniforms it's a thin line between some American and the synonymously credited German WW 2 uniforms in my mind, this uniform being one of the most pleaseing to me.
Can you tell me anything about it, that is what pattern it is or anything about it at all. And the fact he has a Silver Star would it be likely to narrow down the possible original owner along with the other awards, he served in the pacific and occupation forces of Japan and has the China sea's medal any slim chance with that medal............I doubt it but had to ask.
The other trivial thing is the top breast button is backed with black 'plastic' opposed to the others being the all metal types with the makers name is this normal practice or perhaps a replacement ? Stupid question I know.
Nice uniform! This was the four-pocket kahki uniform, one that some folks (including myself) are half-heartedly campaigning to have the Navy bring back (helluva lot better than some of what we wear now!) These jackets were worn all the way up into the 1960's. The ribbons are nice embroidered ones, the Silver Star is impressive... Not many (relatively, of course!) of those awarded during the War. (Unless he was a submariner, in which case it was "normal".)
The shoulder boards look about the same vintage to the uniform, though I think they are too low in rank... An officer stationed overseas (even if he was enlisted) in early 1941 would have been more than a LTjg by the late 1940's. Maybe a full LT, or even a LCDR may be more appropriate.
Something unusual is how high the ribbons are above the pocket... They should be 1/4" above the pocket, and these look to be over 3/4". I don't know what's up with that.
The black backed button appears to be a replacement that someone replaced at one time or another.
The ribbon set is truly splendid. I agree with Dave that I think a higher rank would make sense for this set of ribbons. The Silver Star is particularly impressive since, as Dave observed, that decoration was rather uncommon in the Navy.
With holes in the tunic above the ribbons it is conceivable that he was a Naval aviator, and wore the distictive gold wings of a Navy pilot above the ribbons. A submarine badge is another possibility, though offhand I can't recall whether that badge was worn above or below the ribbons o a Navy uniform in WW II. Either type of service would make the Silver Star perfectly appropriate, since I believe that aviators and submariners proportionally had a greater chance of winning that decoration that sea surface personnel.
The button could be a replacement, but probably period done. It's also possible that when the buttons were originally put on the tunic, the tailor was a button short of the marked style and grabbed another type to complete the set. Either way, I don't think that is of any concern to US uniform collectors.
It really is sharp, and I think it's a great piece for any collection of uniforms!
This makes my favourite uniform even more special to me, if I could get my hands on an appropiate badge of the period do you think it would br alright then to put it on the uniform to complete it..........or should I leave it as it is, I don't want mess around with it or damage it.
Marcus, One way to tell WW2 USN shoulder boards apart from later ones is that the WW2 varieties are flat, newer ones are more concave to fit the shoulder better. BTW, nice uniform. Jeff A
...Something unusual is how high the ribbons are above the pocket... They should be 1/4" above the pocket, and these look to be over 3/4". I don't know what's up with that.
The black backed button appears to be a replacement that someone replaced at one time or another.
Hope that helps!
--Dave
Dave,
I think we are looking at a submariner here. The fact that the ribbons are sewn so high above the pocket flap makes me think that he should have a submarine combat badge with the three stars in the middle. He would of course have his gold dolphins above the ribbons.
Keep fighting for that tan uniform too! It looks much better than some of the others being worn today.
Marcus,
Is there a tailor's label inside the coat? Perhaps inside the pocket in the lining? I agree with the others that he would have had to be a three striper at least by the time period represented by the ribbons (post 1957?).
Allan
The combination of a submarine qualification badge above the ribbons, with the combat submarine badge below it makes perfect sense. It conects well with possible cruises in the China Sea for the China Service medal, and certainly makes the reason for the Silver Star award very clear.
Marcus, my own opinion is that it would be entirely acceptable to place these two badges on the tunic. I think that it completes the uniform, myself. As to damage, I don't think that there would be any problem at all, since these uniforms were designed to have such devices placed upon them. The only real problem would be that original WW II sub qualification and combat badges are fairly expensive these days!
Oh and by the way thank you for the help on the modern USAF patch Theres no makers label inside it is lined though and has little pads under the arm pit area ! I've never seen that before on any uniforms I've seen and there is a inner pocket on the right hand side.
Bill,
So how much in the States would it cost roughly for some period style rank boards and the badges or which reputable dealers could I obtain such items from.
'Herman' will soon stand in full glory after all these years and to think I had such a uniform and didn't even know it, unusual.
Thank you everyone for all your help and time on this, I'll keep you updated with the progress of Herman I'll try to obtain original era badges for him in the New Year.
Oh and by the way thank you for the help on the modern USAF patch Theres no makers label inside it is lined though and has little pads under the arm pit area ! I've never seen that before on any uniforms I've seen and there is a inner pocket on the right hand side.
Bill,
So how much in the States would it cost roughly for some period style rank boards and the badges or which reputable dealers could I obtain such items from.
'Herman' will soon stand in full glory after all these years and to think I had such a uniform and didn't even know it, unusual.
Thank you everyone for all your help and time on this, I'll keep you updated with the progress of Herman I'll try to obtain original era badges for him in the New Year.
Kind regards,
Marcus
Just to throw my two cents in here.... I wouldn't change the shoulder boards at all. That embroidered ribbon bar style on a sewn on patch is definitely 1950's. Also, the National Defense Service ribbon (bottom center) is for an award that wasn't authorized until 1953. So you have a post 1953 uniform-- the vaulted shoulder boards are appropriate for the uniform.
Just to throw my two cents in here.... I wouldn't change the shoulder boards at all. That embroidered ribbon bar style on a sewn on patch is definitely 1950's. Also, the National Defense Service ribbon (bottom center) is for an award that wasn't authorized until 1953. So you have a post 1953 uniform-- the vaulted shoulder boards are appropriate for the uniform.
Hope this helps,
Tom L.
Tom...
Nice to have you on the Forum! Welcome!
I don't think that the problem with the boards was so much the vaulted style as the rank. I would think that an officer with that group of awards would be higher in rank than the current boards on the tunic reflect.
Also, I'm not quite certain why you stated that ribbons embroidered on a patch are definitely 1950's? I've had any number of uniforms from the immediate post-war era that had these types of embroidered ribbon bar sets. They were being created in both occupied Germany and Japan not long after the war ended and occupation began, in much the same way that Assman began making US insignia, as did Lauer of Nuremberg, which ironically was the maker of the distinctive insignia worn by the US guards and prison officers at the Nuremburg Trials.
WW 2 USN uniform
Theres no makers label inside it is lined though and has little pads under the arm pit area ! I've never seen that before on any uniforms I've seen and there is a inner pocket on the right hand side.
Linear Mode
