Philippine Made Belt Buckles

[PhilippineBuckles]

I acquired the three buckles Ryan @vforvictory1945 called out for sale on ebay in post #573.  I just wanted to share that I believe the Pete VAH-10 CVA-64 buckle is from 1964-65 which is the only time VAH-10 was on the Constellation (i.e. from 5 May 1964  to 1 February 1965).   CVA-64 participated in Gulf of Tonkin Incident (2 August 1964).  I found the CVA-64 1964 cruise book online (https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv64-64/272.htm) and there are four pages of group photos for VAH-10 but it only gives the initials with last names so while one could use them to reduce the list of possible individuals I'm going to stop searching.  I had not done any research when I bought the three buckles and this was actually the one I least wanted in the lot but I think it turned out to be the most interesting of the three. 

 

[PhilippineBuckles]

The George R. Teeple buckle is interesting too.  If I found the right person, George was age 55 in 1953 and was a veteran of WWI and WWII based on his grave marker (from Billion Graves) which says he was a CSF (Chief Ship Fitter) USNR.  The 1940 census says his occupation was Gold Mine :-)  I wonder if he was called back or contracted to work on helping build NAS Cubi Point...

[FlyNavy02]

PhilippineBuckles,

 

Thanks for your comments on my two buckles, much appreciated.

 

Jay

[Will Aguilar]

https://nickelinstitute.org/blog/2021/march/historic-monel-the-alloy-that-time-forgot/ 

 

This is for everyone here who collected the Philippines buckles made from 1940-1991......this article is about the material made of your buckles.

[Will Aguilar]

Just now, Will Aguilar said:

https://nickelinstitute.org/blog/2021/march/historic-monel-the-alloy-that-time-forgot/ 

 

This is for everyone here who collected the Philippines buckles made from 1940-1991......this article is about the material made of your buckles.

A big thanks to 'J.S." for sharing & researching this article.

[easterneagle87]

Just read this, fascinating!

[Salvage Sailor]

Excellent read with my morning coffee.

 

Mahalo Will

[trenchbuff]

Great post Wil.  Thank you!

[easterneagle87]

On 11/20/2021 at 1:28 AM, easterneagle87 said:

This one has been on ebay for a while. Is it stamped OR carved? 

 

Similar style to the Philipp ones, but is it? 

i went ahead and got this buckle.

[PhilippineBuckles]

Great post Will!  Thank you!  Makes me want to learn even more about Monel metal.  I can't remember if I posted these Fleet Support buckles that came together: Spooks Inc. Misawa Japan and buckle before.  Which came with a buckle from E.L. Shoemaker  55 Div DSE.   BTW -- Can someone tell me what DSE / OSE stands for?

 

  Misawa

 

Happy Thanksgiving 2021 Everyone!  

[Salvage Sailor]

Nice 'FLISH' buckle, NAVSECGRU CT's (Naval Security Group Cryptographic Technicians)

 

DSE = It's an additional Crypto Det. added to operational units as dictated by the operational plan(s) and mission.  They are typically added to the (OS) Division aboard ship or sub (if they have one, otherwise, to one of the Operations divisions)

 

The DSE-O is the NAVSECGRU Direct Support Element (DSE) Officer in Charge.

 

• 2. OS Division - The OS Division is responsible for providing special intelligence communications to the warfare commanders both internal and external to the battlegroup. Typically, OS Division personnel are enlisted cryptologic specialists (i.e., CTs). In some cases, ships will receive a special NAVSECGRU Direct Support Element (DSE) consisting of additional CTs, which provide tailored support (e.g., CTIs for specific area interception operations).

 

They are 'Spook' buckles, and the one with wings is from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan.  Depicted on it is the emblem for ASW Hunter Killer Task Groups (subsurface & surface hunter-killer force)  The Dolphin is on the left side, making this a CT buckle.  The patch below for Task Group Bravo shows the dolphin on the right denoting ASW.

 

 

 

When in doubt, search the USMF and you shall find a topic with examples of these 'FLISH' insignia on buckles, patches, etc.

Odd Navy Warfare Device patch ID: ASW Units

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Post No. 73 of this topic (CT-DSE) Direct Support Element

 

 

Another one posted by Tonomachi, This one is an enlisted buckle (silver vs. gold)

 

[easterneagle87]

Super ref back to a buckle that was previously listed. Always learning something new. I now know flt he meaning about right and left dolphins. 

[PhilippineBuckles]

@Salvage Sailor Thank you for all the info!  I didn't know the design is called a FLISH.  I did a search and I found Geo. Guy Thomas (Retired US Navy) says he had a PI buckle made in 1972....

 

"Several years ago I tried to learn the history of the DirSup emblem, the FLISH. (I can provide a photo). I remember someone thought that the origin was the work of a CTTSN Parker at NSGD Yokusuka in about 1969. First name was not recalled. It was originally used for the TGU there and then adopted by the DirSup teams at Kami Sets. That made sense to me as I recall RADM Pat March, the CO of NSGA Kami Seya as an O-6 in that time frame, tried a few years later to get it accepted as an official USN device. I remember reading the rejection letter as a LT. Would appreciate any other history. I still have 2 different FLISH belt buckles. One made in the PI about 1972 and the other at Atsugi in about 1975. Also have a very high quality FLISH breast device which is indistinguishable from a regulation device."  https://stationhypo.com/2018/06/15/correction-made/

 

Here is a buckle with J.N.S. and D.S.E. which I always wondered about.  Note the dolphin is on the right.  The use of periods in the acronym has puzzled me but I think there is a high probability that the DSE is "Direct Support Element (DSE)".  Again, thank you for this information.  What about JNS? Joint Naval Services/Security?

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Right & Left became somewhat haphazard in the 1960's.

 

There used to be uniformity in the USN insignias as they were designed.  Over the years, sailors have modified them or changed them artistically to suit their own desires (or due to lack of precedential knowledge).  Flipped them, modified them, left out elements, etc.

 

Specifically, USN structure initially divides the units between port & starboard, Pacific & Atlantic, Odd and Even.  1, 3, 5, 7 is Pacific/IO/PG, 2, 4, 6, 8 is the Atlantic/Med/Southern.  You'll see this on signs, insignia & patches where the right  (starboard) side weighed towards the Atlantic Fleet & the left (port) side weighed towards the Pacific Fleet.  Thus for the Pacific Fleets the Trident points Left (Port, Pacific)

 

 

 

...and for the Atlantic Fleet (including the Med), it points to Starboard (right, Atlantic)

 

 

 

This used to follow through on other emblems but after the 1960's pretty much anything goes until the mid 1980's when patches were 'standardized'.  Just look at Cruiser & Destroyer patches now, all same-same, blue oval border and 'official' crest.  Blah.

 

We now return you to this most excellent topic, post away

 

[PhilippineBuckles]

I really like the FLISH and the CT saying "In God We Trust -- All Else/Others We Monitor".  Below are two images I found online.  One can order shirts and hoodies for the Direct Support one. https://hazegrayapparel.com/products/navy-hoodie-crypto-direct-support

 

[PhilippineBuckles]

Here are two COMASWFORPAC buckles side-by-side.  The CDR Hal Scudder buckle was posted by @skir in

The Capt. W. M Pardee buckle sold on ebay back in 2013

[Salvage Sailor]

There ya go, two (2) ASW 'FLISH' buckles

 

BTW PI Buckles, I think the J.N.S. letters on your buckle are the owners initials.

 

[PhilippineBuckles]

Since we've being talking about Hunter Killers (HUK), I thought it was a nice coincidence that this "Orion The Hunter ADC William Miller" buckle popped up on ebay (which I snagged).

 

I also found an interesting 14-minute "Hunter Killer" 1967 USN color video/film posted by PeriscopeFilm   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX1otQzmfJg

[easterneagle87]

52 minutes ago, PhilippineBuckles said:

Since we've being talking about Hunter Killers (HUK), I thought it was a nice coincidence that this "Orion The Hunter ADC William Miller" buckle popped up on ebay (which I snagged).

 

I also found an interesting 14-minute "Hunter Killer" 1967 USN color video/film posted by PeriscopeFilm   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX1otQzmfJg

Great snag! Congrats 

[easterneagle87]

Ever grateful for contacts I've made through the forum. Once again, @airbornehunter comes through for me with a nice buckle find. Pretty decent Submarine Service buckle with "CHUCK" as the engraved name.  

[easterneagle87]

RECENT PURCHASE OFF OF THE 'BAY, A PAIR OF USS Waddell, DDG-24 BUCKLES. 

[easterneagle87]

Hit the road and did some junking at the Alameda Peddlers Fair today. Found some Smalls, but speaking of “smalls” , caught this little gem on the way out. Anne with roses on each side.It is definitely a sweet heart buckle! 
 

I put it on a business card for size reference. TINY!!!

[Nack]

On 11/21/2021 at 10:32 AM, PhilippineBuckles said:

The George R. Teeple buckle is interesting too.  If I found the right person, George was age 55 in 1953 and was a veteran of WWI and WWII based on his grave marker (from Billion Graves) which says he was a CSF (Chief Ship Fitter) USNR.  The 1940 census says his occupation was Gold Mine :-)  I wonder if he was called back or contracted to work on helping build NAS Cubi Point...

Evidently also a Shriner.  Great buckle!

[easterneagle87]

Currently listed on the 'bay. Simple plain, Naval Aviators buckle. 

 

eBay item number: 284556903607