I was wondering if anyone could tell me what naval rank would have 3 short horizontal lines on the front of the helmet? Thanks Jon

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what naval rank would have 3 short horizontal lines on the front of the helmet? Thanks Jon

 

seamnan... it is an E3 in the navy colors also designate there job... what are the colors and can you post a picture?

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what naval rank would have 3 short horizontal lines on the front of the helmet? Thanks Jon

 

Is there a star above the lines?

 

Kurt

A picture would eliminate some speculation, for sure.

 

But I would lean more toward it being the rank of commander, than a seaman. On a ship such as a destroyer, a commander's rank would likely be that of the "captain" of the ship (with helmet marked "C.O." or "Captain").

 

On heavier vessels such as cruisers, battleships, and carriers, the "captain" would also be the rank of captain, helmets most commonly marked accordingly for that of being the commanding officer, C.O., etc.

 

These larger vessels had department heads that were Lt. Commander and Commander rank; helmets sometimes marked to denote the department of which they were the head, such as WEPS, NAV, OPS, etc.

 

I have also seen helmets and photos of helmets for naval officers that were not part of a ship's company, that bore painted rank insignia.

 

All of the above is intended as just general info and observation on my part; a humble former sailor myself, and helmet buff.

 

And for that matter, I too have seen examples of helmets with petty officer or non-rated markings such as seaman, as was mentioned in the previous post.

 

When you get a chance, please post a picture. I'd sure like to see your helmet !!

 

Best regards,

Paul

 

Best regards,

Paul Walker

Thanks for all the info guys, I guess I should have posted the pictures of the helmet to start with. This came in a grouping from retired Rear Admiral Oscar H. Dodson, I'll be posting the rest of the group at a later date, time permitting. During WWII Admiral Dodson was the Communications Officer aboard the USS Hornet during the Doolittle raid on Tokyo. He earned a Silver Star during the Battle of Santa Cruz when the Hornet was going down. Later in the war he was the Executive Officer aboard the USS Topeka. Thanks Jon

Jon,

 

That's a great helmet, and I'd stake what's left of my reputation on it being as I mentioned above, a commander's rank-marked helmet.

 

Maybe you have, or can obtain a copy of his biography. - Probably one on file, maybe even on-line, through the Naval Institute. I'm willing to speculate that circa 1944 (+,-) he was serving in the rank of commander, which would be in-line with the shade of O.D. on the steel shell's chinstraps and the flexible loops.

 

I don't know for sure, but the COMMO billet on the Hornet in 1942 was probably a Lt. Commander's billet. As Communications Officer, he would have had both radiomen and signalmen in his department. - Which is quite a few guys on a "bird-farm".

 

Others will probably have more info readily at hand than I do.

 

Great helmet and grouping !!

 

Best regards,

Paul

Jon,

 

That's a great helmet, and I'd stake what's left of my reputation on it being as I mentioned above, a commander's rank-marked helmet.

 

Maybe you have, or can obtain a copy of his biography. - Probably one on file, maybe even on-line, through the Naval Institute. I'm willing to speculate that circa 1944 (+,-) he was serving in the rank of commander, which would be in-line with the shade of O.D. on the steel shell's chinstraps and the flexible loops.

 

I don't know for sure, but the COMMO billet on the Hornet in 1942 was probably a Lt. Commander's billet. As Communications Officer, he would have had both radiomen and signalmen in his department. - Which is quite a few guys on a "bird-farm".

 

Others will probably have more info readily at hand than I do.

 

Great helmet and grouping !!

 

Best regards,

Paul

Thanks Paul, I'll try and get the grouping posted, there's some very interesting items. Jon