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Thank you for taking a look at my sales. Let me know if there are any World War One or World War Two medals you are looking for, or if you need an Original replacement set for lost family heirlooms, please contact me and I will list them on for you! Make sure to read all of the information I have provided, I do my absolute best to identify and describe the item your offerding on. The photos are of the actual item your offerding on, consider them part of the description as well!
--ORIGINAL (FULL SIZE) WORLD WAR II UNITED STATES NAVY GOLD OFFICER SUBMARINE WARFARE DOLPHINS BADGE, PIN-BACK
--MANUFACTURERS MARK:
STERLING NS MEYER SHIELD
INFORMATION:
On 13 June 1923, Captain Ernest J. King, Commander, Submarine Division Three (later Fleet Admiral and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, during World War II), suggested to the Secretary of the Navy (Bureau of Navigation) that a distinguishing device for qualified submariners be adopted. He submitted a pen-and-ink sketch of his own showing a shield mounted on the beam ends of a submarine, with dolphins forward of, and abaft, the conning tower. The suggestion was strongly endorsed by Commander Submarine Division Atlantic.
Over the next several months the Bureau of Navigation (now known as BUPERS) solicited additional designs from several sources. Some combined a submarine with a shark motif. Others showed submarines and dolphins, and still others used a shield design. A Philadelphia firm, which had done work for the Navy in the field of United States Naval Academy class rings, was approached by the Bureau of Navigation with the request that it design a suitable badge.
Two designs were submitted by the firm, but these were ultimately combined into a single design. It was a bow view of a submarine, proceeding on the surface, with bow planes rigged for diving, flanked by dolphins (in the form of artistically stylized heraldic dolphins), in a horizontal position with their heads resting on the upper edge of the bow planes.
Today a similar design is used: a dolphin flanking the bow and conning tower of a submarine. On 20 March 1924, the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that the design be adopted. The recommendation was accepted by Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Acting Secretary of the Navy.
Originally, the submarine insignia was to be worn by officers and men qualified in submarine duty only when attached to submarine units or submarine command organizations. The right to wear the pin was revoked if the service member transferred to a non-submarine billet. In 1941 the Uniform Regulations were modified to permit a service member to wear the submarine insignia for the duration of his career, once so authorized.
The officers' insignia was at first a bronze, gold-plated metal pin, worn centered above the left breast pocket and above the ribbons and medals. Enlisted men wore an embroidered insignia sewn on the outside of the right sleeve, midway between the wrist and elbow. The device was two and three-quarters inches long, embroidered in white silk for blue clothing and vice versa. In 1943, the Uniform Regulations were modified to provide that
"Enlisted men, who are qualified and subsequently promoted to commissioned or warrant ranks, may wear enlisted submarine insignia on the left breast until they qualify as submarine officers, at which time this insignia would be replaced by the officers' submarine pin."
In mid-1947, the embroidered device shifted from the sleeve of the enlisted men's jumper to above the left breast pocket. A change to the Uniform Regulations dated 21 September 1950 authorized the embroidered insignia for officers (in addition to the pin-on insignia) and a bronze, silver-plated, pin-on insignia for enlisted men (in addition to the embroidered device).
All of the Medals, Badges, and Insignia in my store are authentic to the time period listed, "I DO NOT" sell current issue items or reproductions "AS" Genuine items, that is a far to common problem on .
As the buyer you are making a investment on an Authentic period Item that will accumulate value whether you display it or give as a gift. I guarantee your satisfaction or I will refund your money and pay return shipping! Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you!
I am a collector myself and I understand the last thing you want to do after purchasing an expensive item is to then have to pay ridiculous shipping rates! That is why 99% of my sales include FREE shipping to all 50 states. I also do my very best on international shipping, all items are shipped USPS International registered to protect myself and the items you have purchased! Thanks!
