Strange CPO crow ID: Coast and Geodetic Survey Wireless CPO

[Bearmon]

Trying to figure out if this is Navy or CG or what. The Radioman/Electrician rate has 5 lightening bolts and what is the Crow perched upon? The shield on the crow's chest is also throwing me off too. Any help?

[Salvage Sailor]

I would add 'odd' to your description

[MastersMate]

Coast and Geodetic Survey from the eagle on top of a hemisphere..

[Bearmon]

Thanks Masters Mate, here is previous posting

 

Looks like it is for a wireless operator

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19290-us-coast-geodetic-survey/

 

if a mod wants to change the title to Coast and Geodetic Survey Wireless CPO I would appreciate it.

[Salvage Sailor]

Done (still looks odd to me, but I'm strange)

[David Minton]

Coast and Geodetic Survey from the eagle on top of a hemisphere..

Agreed, though I have not seen an eagle in this particular style before. These are few and far between, so I admit I have not seen that many.

[MastersMate]

A quiet day here in the NW, no horizontal rain or lightning bolts in sight, so far

 

The use of the sparks or lightning bolts to represent things electrical or electronic has a long tradition in the sea services.. In 1912 the four sparks were authorized by the USN as a distinguishing for Electricians qualified in the use of radio..

 

Interesting is the use of the four sparks ( forked lightning ) by the Revenue Cutter Service earlier in 1908 to represent the petty officer rating of Electrician, who dealt with both Radio and ships electrical plant..

 

In the 1916 CG uniform regulations, the USN globe hemisphere is authorized for the CG Electrician and the four lightning bolts is changed to the new rating of Electrician 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class that deal with radio communications. Of interest is the point that the 1916 regs actually describe the sparks rather that being either illustrations or the basic 'forked lightning' description... By 1920 the Light House service shows three lighning bolts for their radio electricians..

 

The bottom illustration is just a representation sketch by me to illustrate just what the orientation of the lightning is supposed to signify..

[Salvage Sailor]

Lightning bolts were also used on the WWII Radarman rating, later changed to the Oscilloscope Radarman/Operations Specialist rating

 

As a radarman myself, I wish it had been left alone. This presentation by a fellow OS says it better than I could https://veteranscollection.org/2016/03/08/tracking-u-s-navy-specialties-the-history-of-radarmen/

[Bearmon]

Then add the upward arrow through the sparks for Radarman in keeping the Lightening theme

 

same time post

[MastersMate]

If I am not off on some odd tangent, and the direction o the 'sparks' is indeed outbound, the original Radarman specialty mark makes a good representation of RAdio Direction And Ranging. Outgoing Directional sensing electrical energy.

 

The Soundman or SOund Navigation And Ranging man mark indicates the same thing. The headset earphones indicating sound and an arrow to indicate direction..

 

The USN did a fantastic job of creating and representing a sailors specialty trade by the mark used on the petty officer rating badge. It has withstood the test of time .