Sailors dressed up as Pirates?

[abqpropguy]

I found this photo on eBay the other day and was wondering if the Navy had some sort of tradition where they would dress up as pirates?

 

In that movie “Up Periscope” there was a scene where they did this I think?

 

[Charger22]

Interesting photo it is most likely from a shellback ceremony (line crossing ceremony) from my understanding the Navy does them when sailors cross the equator or international date line for the first time. If you google (pollywog or shellback or line crossing ceremony) their is quite a bit on the history of them and they even do certificates that would will find on eBay sometimes. All in all a neat tradition.

[Bearmon]

 

For sure a crossing the line ceremony, Damn pollywogs.

[abqpropguy]

That is awesome! Thanks guys!!!

 

 

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[huntssurplus]

I’ve got one of the certificates from a crossing the line ceremony, belonged to an Army sergeant when he was going to Japan from the US during the Korean War

 

 

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[Kurt Barickman]

Indeed it is shellback ceremony, I still have my shellback certificate as I never want to go through that again.

 

Kurt

[Garandomatic]

Very cool. I posted a series of these i find a while back. As you get more into it, you'll notice recurring characters. Davy Jones, royal dentist, etc etc