U.S Coast Guard Uniform

This lightweight cotton jersey, made by GoldSmith dates from 1941-1945.

A single thin navy blue line of soutache frames the jersey’s collar and placket. Small block-athletic felt lettering is arched across the chest.

While this was sold as a set – jersey and trousers – when I received them, it was clear that these two pieces were mismatched. Without provenance from the veteran (the original owner), it is impossible to know if these two pieces were ever worn together or if the set was assembled by a picker. The jersey design shows that it dates from World War II. Lacking any historical data or photographs, I believe that this uniform was used by a tenant naval aviation squadron that was assigned to a non-air station shore command. Based upon the colors of the lettering and numeral along with the traditional navy colors of blue and gold (as seen on the soutache), I have no doubts as to the navy baseball team usage.

Uniform Features:

Jersey:

• Buttons: The buttons are white-colored plastic, concave, four-hole.
• Material: The base material is white, lightweight cotton.
• Soutache: A single thin line of navy blue rayon material that encircles the collar and frames the placket. The single line soutache is on the sleeve cuffs.
• Lettering: Lightweight blue athletic felt block-lettering spelling out the team name on each side of the placket.
• Numerals: Heavy blue athletic felt digit “6” is centered on the back.
• Sleeves: Five inches, non-gusseted with a single soutache line on the extreme sleeve edge.
• Tag: “GoldSmith Preferred” is sewn inside and below the back of the collar.

Trousers:

• Buttons: Blue-colored plastic, concave, four-hole buttons (similar to those on the jersey).
• Material: The base material is blue, lightweight cotton.
• Soutache: A 1/2-inch wide, white rayon vertical stripe running from the waistband down the outer seam of the trousers.
• Tags: None.
• Other Features: None.

On the sleeve edge is the thin navy blue soutache.

The lone flaw of the Coast Guard jersey is the rust stain on the rear of the collar.

A large athletic felt block numeral “6” is affixed to the jersey’s back.

The right breast of the jersey showing the athletic felt C O A S T lettering,

The small blue block letters spelling out G U A R D on the left breast of the Coast Guard jersey.

A single thin navy blue line of soutache frames the jersey’s collar and placket. Small block-athletic felt lettering is arched across the chest.

See Always Prepared: Landing a WWII U.S. Coast Guard Baseball Uniform for more details.

 

*This uniform group is presently a part of VetCollector’s collection.

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