by
steyrlifer
Hi reneblacky,
The white piping around the right shoulder denotes a Seaman First Class (usually written as S1/c). If there were no piping and no petty officer insignia you would have a Seaman Apprentice (SA) or Seaman Second Class (S2/c).
You have an undress/working blue jumper with 3/4 length open cuffs. On dress blue jumpers with full length buttoned cuffs, one stripe on the cuff signified SA, two stripes signified S2/c. Three stripes signified S1/c AND would be accompanied by the above mentioned white piping around the right shoulder.
At the start of WW2, most above deck rates wore their rating badges/petty officer insignia on their right sleeve and as such, a S1/c would have his piping insignia on his right sleeve. You will also run across jumpers with the same piping on the left shoulder in red. This is for a Fireman First Class (F1/c). Being a below deck specialty (as in Machinist Mates, Boiler Technicians, Ship Fitters, etc.) their rating badges/petty officer insignia was worn on the right sleeve.
White jumpers? The S1/c's white piping would be in black. The F1/c's red would remain red.
Post war the Navy adopted the current system where shoulder piping was deleted, all three levels of Seamen/Firemen wore three stripes on the cuffs of their dress blue jumpers, and each level was designated by one, two or three small slash marks on the upper left sleeve (still color coded) as had been put into use by the WAVE's.
It's good to see someone devoting time and energy to collecting USN history! Keep up the good work.
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