PLEASE HELP WITH WWII OFFICERS SHOULDER BOARDS

[DKNYC71]

Dear Forum Members,

 

I have always been under the impression that WWII Navy officers boards need to be entirely flat to be wartime period.  However, I had observed what appeared like curved boards in wartime photos, perhaps I was mistaken.  Would you be so kind as to render your valued opinion on these boards.

 

Thanks to all in advance!

Dave.

[Father V]

I’m not an expert in this field but the flatness is more in the stiffness of the boards, not front to back. The other American services and some of the British services use a completely flat board, IIRC, that have such insignia. Modern shoulder boards in the USN actually aren’t that old comparatively speaking.

[USMCR79]

These are Post WWII Boards - The WWII Boards are flat with no curve

[Justin B.]

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/364031-straight-vs-curved-naval-shoulder-boards/

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/389506-the-skinny-on-wwii-usn-shoulder-boards-curved-vs-flat/

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/320204-wwii-us-navy-officer-shoulderboards/

 

 

 

[P-40Warhawk]

Hi

Contrary to what a lot of collectors think, it is not as simple as saying flat = WWII and curved = postwar. 

The 1941 regulations specified boards that were flat, however as early as the 1920s privately purchased boards were offered with a slight curve that looked more like a flat board that had the ends bent down, leaving a sort of raised crease appearance at the end. These were not flat boards the officer bent (they don't bend that easily by design). 

Some manufacturers took this a step further and added a distinctive curve in an effort to provide a more pleasing shape - after all the point of the curve was to provide a better looking fit over the shoulders. Flat boards can tilt off center to the shoulder axis and look sloppy. The kinked look of the creased ones did not present the finest transition from flat to curved, so other suppliers came up with a better curved arc that was symmetrical and balanced. 

While not authorized, they weren't uncommon to see. Another source of unauthorized curved boards were those made and sold in the upper end tailor shops in England & Australia. 

There are numerous photos of officers wearing the curved variation of boards during the war, and that can be verified because some of the officers were KIA during WWII. In fact the first type I mention with the bent look, can be see in this photo of Admiral Dan Callaghan who was KIA in August 1942. There are plenty of photos of the better looking nicely curved boards too, I just don't have one handy at arms reach. It ultimately came down to if the officer liked the curved style, was in a command that was tolerant of them, and could find someone selling them. I have seen photos from Ensigns to Admirals with curved boards during WWII, though I would say probably the flag officers could get away with it, and not every Ensign could. 

To date the boards, it really comes down to the logo, material, and size/shape. There is a bit of a curve  (no pun intended) to learning it, and at times it can seem like there is no difference at all, because the details are often the most important. The angular bent boards I mention are pretty much all WWII era, the curved ones can depend on details as some can date back to the 1920s but have a specific shape/size. The curved boards existed before the US Navy adopted them, and it was because of their popularity that they gave in and made the style regulation later - they simply gave a better fit to the uniform. 



I hope that helps

[R Leonard]

Applying a slight curve to the boards made them "salty".