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Flags
Flags are everywhere. They are mainly associated with geographical regions, countries and nations, but if you look around you will find them as symbols of many other walks of life.
A flag is basically a piece of material that is flown from a mast or pole, but once you start adding coloring, designs and emblems to that piece of cloth you have a work of art.
The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.
Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy's flag was considered an honorable seizure.
Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world's countries, the use of national flags didn't become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.
When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these unchartered lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.
Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.
In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of 'vexillology', which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.
While the Seafarer Certificates section covers the most common unofficial certificates given for a person's accomplishments there are others. These were identified in the November 1952 All Hands magazine and in a document from the Naval History and Heritage Command in September of 2017.
Of those we were able to locate certificates and/or wallet cards for three (3) certificates that a person should not want to receive. Although their nature was to make light of a bad situation they really are -
3 UNWANTED CERTIFICATES
The "GOLDFISH" Club
The oldest and largest is the "GOLDFISH" Club. It was organized among fliers of the Royal Air Force; however, its members included Americans, French, Australians, New Zealand, Dutch, Canadian, Norwegian, Czechoslovakian, South African, and Belgian airmen. The organization was founded by Lt.Col. F. Baden-Powell Weil, Royal Air Force, Managing Director of P.B. Cow and Co., manufacturers of air-sea rescue equipment. To qualify for membership, one had to ditch or parachute into the sea and survive by use of a rubber dingy.
The insignia for the Goldfish Club is a goldfish with white upswept wing, leaping over two blue waves, all embroidered on black cloth. However, versions do exist on colors other than black, probably due to the shortage of cloth during the war. Most of the insignia was embroidered on donated material. For two or more trips in the sea, an additional blue wave could be added for each occurrence. The badge was never worn on the outside of the uniform, but was sewn on the underside of the lapel.
The "SEA SQUATTERS" Club
The "Sea Squatters" Club was organized in the United States by the Walter Kidde Company, 140 Cedar Street, New York, New York. A manufacturer of Mae Wests and rubber life rafts. Membership is open to all allied airmen who have been forced down at sea and either used a rubber life raft, survived without having had a raft, or were able to stay with their plane. Sea Squatters Club insignia is a small metal gold sitting duckpin.
The "CATERPILLAR" Club
The Caterpillar Club insignia is found in several types;
One type is a small metal caterpillar with red enamel eyes with the manufacturer's name appearing on the back.
The second type is a red, white and blue pin with a man suspended from a silver parachute. The back has aspace for the member's name, the parachute manufacturer's name, and wording relating to the member being saved or making an emergency parachute jump.
A third type is a cut-out design of a man suspended from a parachute, the manufacturer's name appears on the back.
A fourth type is a winged parachute with the "IRVIN" (Irvin Parachute Company) on the front. The back is blank.
Seafarer Certificates
These are all unofficial certificates that document where a Sailor has been, what they have done, and most importantly, what they are—a Shellback, a Blue Nose, or Golden Dragon. These are just a small sampling of the possible unofficial certificates a person can acquire.
On any noteworthy occasion — and perhaps on some that might be otherwise forgotten — somebody in the crew is sure to spend hours at a drawing board to create a memorable certificate, replete with salty language, drawings of mermaids and tritons and anchors and chains.
Mariners of a time long past, when it all began, accomplished these titles in earnest. As all those sailors knew well, Neptune, god of the sea, was fickle. They all knew that King Neptune played an important role in ancient rituals just as he does in today's initiations into the Orders of the Deep. King Neptune his slightest whim, it was believed, might throw a storm into the path of a ship that would splinter her oars and spars like matchwood, or cast her onto the rocky coast.
Nowadays these events still occur but it's done all in fun and without official recognition.
The display and use of these certificates are with the permission of Tiffany Publishing Company. These certificates may be purchased from Tiffany Publishing Company.
PLANK OWNER - Commissioning a Ship or Shore Command
SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator
GOLDEN SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator at the International Date Line
EMERALD SHELLBACK - Crossing the Equator at the Greenwich Meridian
PERSIAN EXCURSION - The Persian Excursion commemorates service in the Persian/Arabian Gulf.
BLUE NOSE - Crossing the Arctic Circle. Specialty Blue Noses may be issued for those crossing under the ice, surfacing at the Pole, etc. Also known as the "Northern Domain of the Polar Bear"and or "Frozen Stiff"
GOLDEN DRAGON - Crossing the International Date Line
ORDER OF MAGELLAN - Going around the World
SPANISH MAIN - Cruising the Caribbean
ORDER OF THE DITCH - Transiting the Panama Canal
SAFARI TO SUEZ - Transiting the Suez Canal
ORDER OF THE ROCK - Transit through the Straits of Gibraltar
REALM OF THE CZARS - Cruising the Black Sea
DEEP DIVE - Crew members for First Dives and Last Dives
RED NOSE - Crossing the Antarctic Circle Special Red Nose may be issued for wintering over, Byrd Station Society, Palmer Station, etc. Also known as the "Royal Domain of the Penguin"
The display and use of these certificates are with the permission of Tiffany Publishing Company. These certificates may be purchased from Tiffany Publishing Company.
During World War 2 the Government Printing Office was extremely busy printing posters in the support of the war effort. This is a portion of those posters that we have labeled as
War Bonds
Materials published by the U.S. Government Printing Office are in the public domain and, as such, not subject to copyright restriction.
The information about and the pictures of the World War 2 posters on this site were acquired from:
World War II Poster Collection located at the Northwestern University Library
During World War 2 the Government Printing Office was extremely busy printing posters in the support of the war effort. This is a portion of those posters that we have labeled as
Victory Gardens
Materials published by the U.S. Government Printing Office are in the public domain and, as such, not subject to copyright restriction.
The information about and the pictures of the World War 2 posters on this site were acquired from:
World War II Poster Collection located at the Northwestern University Library