Show your Navy Chief Uniforms!

[navyman]

Hi Everboby,

Wanted to start a thread about cpo uniforms, I hope to see yours!!!!! Let us know the time period when you post.

This uniform is a ww2 cpo submarine uniform. It has a bullion motor machinist's rate and bullion sub insignia.

Jason

 

 

[Stinger Gunner USMC]

Here's mine...

 

and the ribbons

Thats 3 silver campaign stars on the Asia/Pac campaign. Thats 15 war patrols

If the guy completed all patrols with the same boat then it would have been on the USS Thresher SS-200, which was the only boat to complete 15 patrols and receive a single NUC.

The Sub badge is a beautiful H&H sterling pinback

This CPO obviously stayed in until the late 40's

 

#2 is named to W A Kinahan. I have not been able to identify him though. its a nice clean 8 button

 

my last one worth posting is named to CPO Mesa.

[navyman]

Nice uniforms, keep them coming!!!

 

I have two more that I will put on now. The first one is a chief photographer's mate. Secound one is more unusual it is a chief aviation ordnanceman who was also a pilot . I saw one of these uniform on ebay a year or so ago and he had a picture of a guy wearing that uniform, which he got the picture from the nara. That cpo was a aviation machinist's mate with the pilot wings.

 

Jason

 

 

Uniform could use a cleaning!

[navyman]

#2

 

 

 

[BEAST]

Those are some great uniforms! These have such a classic look and are very underrated.

 

I have posted these before, but thought I would still contribute them. Here is a grouping from one vet that were given to me by his nephew. During the war, he served stateside and travelled with a Navy baseball team. Notice the placement of the ratings on the right sleeve.

 

 

[navyman]

Nice uniforms Beast,

Here are some more of my cpo's uniforms.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a cpo commissaryman who served with the seabees

 

#2

These two uniforms came together, probably the same guy. Aviation machinist's mate.

 

 

 

Blue

 

His aviation green uniform

 

 

 

I need to buy another camera!!!!!!!

Jason

 

[craig_pickrall]

Both of these uniforms are to the same man. I sold both several years ago and do not remember what his name was. They both date to the early mid 50's but you can see different ribbons on each.

 

I have more pics of both plus both had the trousers with them and I took pics of those as well. If there is interest let me know and I will post them.

 

[topdcnut]

WW1 Chief Electricians Mate can anyone help me find a collar in size 16 and a period bowtie and or cravate?

T/Y John

[navyman]

Nice uniforms everybody,

Here's a usn corpsman that served with the marines in ww2. There seem's to be a name but I can't make it out.

 

 

Jason

 

[kyhistorian01]

Here are some of my Navy Chief uniforms. I have a few others still packed away, but I still need to add a white chief's uniform to my collection someday. How do you guys think I am doing so far.

 

Robert

 

Pic 1 Green Master Chief

 

Tan chief

 

Gray WWII Chief

 

Blue WWII Chief

 

Senior Chief mess dress

[Bob Hudson]

If you find a white chief let me know. The Coast Guard chief sounds like a nice uniform, I would love to see a photo of it. Thanks.

 

Robert

 

Finally got a photo taken:

 

 

[sigsaye]

Nothing special, not WW2 or anything like that. Just the uniform I wore. The ribbons are in a case (shadow box) the wife made.

 

Steve Hesson

 

Here are my dinner dress blues. This was my favorite Chiefs uniform. I always thought I looked very "James Bond" like in them. I didn't realize I had left my mini medals on them until I got them out the shoot the pics. I still have the shirt, bow tie cumberbund and the shirt studs.

 

Steve Hesson

 

Just something a bit different. This is my P-Coat. It was a standard issue VN era coat and over the years has had the buttons changed from the original black plastic anchor buttons, to the silver version of the buttons that are on it know from the '72-'80 period, back to black plastic anchor buttons to the ones that are on there now when I made Chief.

 

Steve Hesson

 

My old P-Coat again. Most only had one black plastic anchor button to close the collar. I decided to put these two brass Navy buttons up there as I thought they looked better and two of them balanced the coat out. I lived in this coat quite a bit while stationed in Japan and while training recruits in Great Lakes. It was a good friend.

 

Steve Hesson

 

This was actually the last uniform I wore on active duty. I wore it while on Terminal leave in Orlando to check in and finish off some paper work at the old PSD there before it closed. Notice I only wore the top three ribbons.

 

Steve Hesson

 

 

Again, not so much a uniform, but my OD green field jacket. Drew this out of the supply system in '94 or '95. I was on shore duty as a First LT. That is a Facilities Manager in the civilian workd. We were able to get these for all of our people in grounds maint. I had the liner from previous jackets.

 

Steve Hesson

 

close up of the patches on my jacket. I got the tapes and ESWS patch from the exchange, and got the SCPO patches out in town. I never liked the pin on collar devices, so avoided them when ever possible.

 

Steve Hesson

 

The tag of my OD field jacket for you tag readers.

 

Steve Hesson

 

My Wood land Cammie jacket from a stint with security forces. This one has pin on collar devices. Had a Warrant incharge and couldn't get away with the patches.

 

Steve Hesson

 

Tag from my cammie jacket. I think I got this some time between '90 and '93. Don't remember for sure.

 

Steve Hesson

[Lee Ragan]

Great looking uniforms guys. The chiefs mess dress jackets are really classy looking. :thumbsup:

Steve, you ought to put together a replacement ribbon rack for your blue coat. That would "complete", it. :thumbsup:

[sigsaye]

This is a WW2 era Chiefs hat I have. I like it as it has a khaki cover and a bit of wear on it. I also like the "Jaunty" angle of the anchor device. I have a photo of a Chief Signalman from the late thirties who is wearing the anchor on his hat the same way. Just appeals to me.

 

 

Another view of WW2 CPO hat.

 

Steve Hesson

[market garden]

Here are my WW2 - Korean War, U.S.N & CG Chiefs uniforms. CG is a Dog/horse handler.

[market garden]

USMM Chiefs visor

[tsakers85]

Nothing special, not WW2 or anything like that. Just the uniform I wore. The ribbons are in a case (shadow box) the wife made.

 

Steve Hesson

 

 

You wouldn't happen to know where some of these could be picked up at do you? Another organization I belong to wears CPO style uniforms.

[sigsaye]

You wouldn't happen to know where some of these could be picked up at do you? Another organization I belong to wears CPO style uniforms.

Probebly from the manufactuerer. Mine was made by Patriot. Another maker is Flying Cross. I would think if you did a search for them, you should be able to find a source. there is also a place I found on line searching for this style uniforms that makes this same thing for fire dapartments as they also wear this style of uniform. So, look up Fire Fighter Uniforms. That should get you something.

 

Steve Hesson

[Kurt Barickman]

What a bunch of "salty" dogs! :thumbsup: Remember working for chiefs fondly. When I was on active 1981-4, my Gunner Mate Chiefs were all Vietnam PBR guys. In fact, the GMG1 who slept in the bunk above me had his legs riddled pretty good from a PBR patrol from a AK 47. Often, he jumping down from the bunk in the morning wearing his scivies and seeing his shot up leg was my greeting to a new day. They were usually the greatest guys. Thanks for posting.

 

Kurt Barickman

[USMCRECON]

I posted my Photographer's Marte CPO uniform elsewhwere but since this CPO thread has been created I thought I'd post some more of my CPO holdings here. Until a couple years ago I really didn't have all that much interest in CPO stuff but did take the opportunity to grab a couple aviation greens 5-10 years ago. I've since become interested in their often colorful insignia/hashmarks/ribbons, etc and have acquired a handfull in the last year. I've posted at least a couple of these elsewhere (probably a year or more ago) so am only going to post one overview of each (two are grouped in the same photos) for reference.

 

This is a sht of both the summer khakis and winter blues to the same Chief. Both have custom made ribbons made of individual threads.

 

[USMCRECON]

Here are two Aviation Chief uniforms, not to the same man. The top one I got at least 10 years ago, maybe earlier). The bottom one came to me at some time within the last 5-6 years. I put them together in the same photo because the one in the back has no ribbons, wings, or anything so there's nothing to see beyond the rating and hashmarks. The bottom one is made of usual Marine officer/Naval Aviation grade wool but the top one is made of a heavier whipcord material. It also came with a pair or matching riding breeches but I didn't photograph them separately. The ribbons and wings look like they've been there a long time but I can't say that they were always there.

 

[USMCRECON]

I got this one within the last couple years. It also has custom made ribbons. I don't know when the Senior and Master Chief ratings were created but this obviously post-dated that date. According to the seller, the owner of this was a young seaman gunner aboard the Hornet during the Doolittle mission. While I haven't virtually tormn it apart looking, I haven't found a name in any of the usual locations on either blouse or trousers....yet.

 

FYI: When I bought this, I paid for the uniform....but not the story. :think:

 

[sigsaye]

Here are two Aviation Chief uniforms, not to the same man. The top one I got at least 10 years ago, maybe earlier). The bottom one came to me at some time within the last 5-6 years. I put them together in the same photo because the one in the back has no ribbons, wings, or anything so there's nothing to see beyond the rating and hashmarks. The bottom one is made of usual Marine officer/Naval Aviation grade wool but the top one is made of a heavier whipcord material. It also came with a pair or matching riding breeches but I didn't photograph them separately. The ribbons and wings look like they've been there a long time but I can't say that they were always there.

 

Bill, these are great Uniforms. The red chevrons and hashmarks on the Aviation Greens was supposed to be dropped in '43, (but continued to be worn any way because Sailors are just like that). Note the Air gunner patch. It should actually be on the right shoulder, but it is like the shooter badge on the WW 1 CPO uniform, and no one is going to tell a Chief it is wrong I can't tell for sure, but are there any stars in his GC ribbon? Again, no one is going to tell a five hashmark Chief with only one GC he has a badge out of place. (There's a reason he doesn't have more GCs )

 

Steve Hesson

[sigsaye]

I got this one within the last couple years. It also has custom made ribbons. I don't know when the Senior and Master Chief ratings were created but this obviously post-dated that date. According to the seller, the owner of this was a young seaman gunner aboard the Hornet during the Doolittle mission. While I haven't virtually tormn it apart looking, I haven't found a name in any of the usual locations on either blouse or trousers....yet.

 

FYI: When I bought this, I paid for the uniform....but not the story. :think:

 

Geat set of khakis. The SCPO/MCPO ratings came out in '58. Originally, just adding a seperate star patch above the crow was how it worked. This was replaced with integral stars in the early '60s. Khakis were actually a "disposable" uniform like whites as they could get pretty grungey. So, taking in the ribbons and hashmarks, it is possible that this guy was on a gun crew in '42. But, like you said, you bought the uniform, not the story.

 

Steve Hesson

[USMCRECON]

Bill, these are great Uniforms. The red chevrons and hashmarks on the Aviation Greens was supposed to be dropped in '43, (but continued to be worn any way because Sailors are just like that). Note the Air gunner patch. It should actually be on the right shoulder, but it is like the shooter badge on the WW 1 CPO uniform, and no one is going to tell a Chief it is wrong I can't tell for sure, but are there any stars in his GC ribbon? Again, no one is going to tell a five hashmark Chief with only one GC he has a badge out of place. (There's a reason he doesn't have more GCs )

 

Steve Hesson

 

Hi Steve. There are no devices on it. I don't know if he never got more than one, replaced the ribbon and didn't bother to add them, or what. All of the ribbons are of the plastic coated variety; they show some age, particularly on the back, but are in really nice shape overall.