Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Share #1 Posted April 11, 2018 I received these rates and insignia within a bunch of patches I acquired recently. Since I never was in collecting Navy items I would like to know if these are all U.S. Navy insignia? In addition I would like to know if - these insignia are all postwar (I assume so)? - there's anything of special collector's interest within the lot (I asume not)? - the small flag has a maritime background? Thanks in advance for your help! Ahoi! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted April 11, 2018 more pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted April 11, 2018 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Minton Posted April 11, 2018 Share #4 Posted April 11, 2018 The ratings all look post WWII (maybe 1960s for the bullion, others maybe later). The two 2c petty officers look like they could be USCG blue, but maybe the light. The two shoulder boards look curved, though the one on the right (Lt. Commander Medical Corps) might be late war, hard to tell from the photo. Hard to tell on the strikers. Some are definitely post WWII as the speciality marks weren't introduced until 1948. The others are hard to tell, though the snowman may be WWII (I can't recall which way the arrow points, but I believe it switched to the other direction in 1948). I think the Naval Aviator wings are the nicest piece, and the only one that may have any value. The collector market for USN is not that strong, particularly for post WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted April 11, 2018 David, thank you very much for your input, I appreciate it. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted April 11, 2018 Close-ups of front & back of the Aviator's wings. Are they WW II or postwar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted April 11, 2018 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 11, 2018 Share #8 Posted April 11, 2018 - the small flag has a maritime background? Thanks in advance for your help! Ahoi! Lars Navy 1.jpg Aloha Lars, The USN Signal Flag is for the letter N = November. It can be used as the letter "N" or to mean "No" or "Negative" US Naval Signal Flags http://www.navy.mil/navydata/communications/flags/flags.html Photo: International Signals Board from my collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted April 11, 2018 Coool! Thanks very much for adding these signal boards. I'm learning something new every day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastersMate Posted April 11, 2018 Share #10 Posted April 11, 2018 The two petty officer rating badges are Coast Guard. A Health Services tech and a Radioman (RM)/Telecommunications specialist (TC). The CG rating badges could be from 1976 to the present. The RM/TC was eliminated in the early 2000s and merged into the Ops Specialist rating (OS). The Hospital Corpsman (HM) was renamed Health Service Tech (HS) in about 1981sh. The badge material may help in dating them. From 1976 to about 1986 the standard CG blue uniform was a very fine weave gabardine material. In 1986 it was changed into a coarser 'horse blanket' material.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topdcnut Posted April 12, 2018 Share #11 Posted April 12, 2018 Aloha Lars, The USN Signal Flag is for the letter N = November. It can be used as the letter "N" or to mean "No" or "Negative" US Naval Signal Flags http://www.navy.mil/navydata/communications/flags/flags.html Photo: International Signals Board from my collection Salvage, what is the date on the flag poster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 12, 2018 Share #12 Posted April 12, 2018 I don't have it handy, but I believe it's from the 1970's. It's a laminated melamine or formica board which is shown on this old topic here http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/15945-usn-signal-bridge-flag-pennant-board/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 12, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted April 12, 2018 The two petty officer rating badges are Coast Guard. A Health Services tech and a Radioman (RM)/Telecommunications specialist (TC). The CG rating badges could be from 1976 to the present. The RM/TC was eliminated in the early 2000s and merged into the Ops Specialist rating (OS). The Hospital Corpsman (HM) was renamed Health Service Tech (HS) in about 1981sh. The badge material may help in dating them. From 1976 to about 1986 the standard CG blue uniform was a very fine weave gabardine material. In 1986 it was changed into a coarser 'horse blanket' material.. Thank you for these additional infos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted April 12, 2018 Share #14 Posted April 12, 2018 Aloha Lars, The USN Signal Flag is for the letter N = November. It can be used as the letter "N" or to mean "No" or "Negative". Actually, it does not mean Negative. The Negative Pennant, (blue and yellow check), means Negative. November) single flag and pennant, Allied Naval, is No Visual Watch. Not sure what its International meaning is any more. Used to, but that was long ago. These plaques were in use from before I enlisted in 1972, until after I retired in 1999. I believe they were changed in 1969, with the adoption of the current phonetic alphabet US Naval Signal Flags http://www.navy.mil/navydata/communications/flags/flags.html Photo: International Signals Board from my collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 12, 2018 Share #15 Posted April 12, 2018 Ahoy Steve, First, as always, I defer to your expertise as a Signalman whereas I'm a mere QM/OS ops puke. Just pulled out my copy of the INTERCO (Pub. 102 International Code of Signals, 1969) for reference. I had if fairly correct from memory. The pub says under Single Letter Signals - N No (negative or “The significance of the previous group should be read in the negative”). This signal may be given only visually or by sound. For voice or radio transmission the signal should be “NO”. Here's a link to the online copy of Pub 102 1969 (Rev. 2003) http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted April 13, 2018 Share #16 Posted April 13, 2018 Ahoy Steve, First, as always, I defer to your expertise as a Signalman whereas I'm a mere QM/OS ops puke. Just pulled out my copy of the INTERCO (Pub. 102 International Code of Signals, 1969) for reference. I had if fairly correct from memory. The pub says under Single Letter Signals - N No (negative or The significance of the previous group should be read in the negative). This signal may be given only visually or by sound. For voice or radio transmission the signal should be NO. Here's a link to the online copy of Pub 102 1969 (Rev. 2003) http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf . Yes, I agree that in Pub 102, November is Negative. That is international. The flag plaque in the OP, is USN, therefore, the single flag and pennant meanings would come from ATP1 (Allied Tactical Publication), used by allied Navies. There are a whole range of special flags and pennants used in Naval signaling, that are not used in Merchant ship signaling. Since everything in the op was Navy/CG ( they use the same signal books), we should go with the Naval meaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastersMate Posted April 13, 2018 Share #17 Posted April 13, 2018 Altered a portion of the original photo, in particular the Sonar Operator distinguishing mark. Rotate it clockwise 180 degrees and it would be worn on the right sleeve to indicate a qualification level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted April 13, 2018 Author Share #18 Posted April 13, 2018 MastersMate, thanks again for your input! My last question: Is anybody interested in these insignia (except the Aviato wings, I think I will keep these) and the flag? If so, pm me your address. I'll send you these items for free only asking for postage. Thanks again everybody! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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