The uniform of the Navy WAVES was also adopted
for the SPARS in accordance with the already existing similarity of uniforms
between male Navy and Coast Guard personnel. The different services could
be recognized by the distinctive insignia and buttons only. At the beginning
the SPARS uniforms were acquired from the Navy, until the Coast Guard took
over full responsibility for uniform matters pertaining to SPARS in June
1943.
There were three types of basic uniform:
- navy-blue wool (service dress, blue)
- white summer uniform (service dress, white)
- working uniform |
.
Service and Dress Uniform
Service Dress, Blue, A
.
Service Dress, Blue, A
(Enlisted Personnel)
.
The picture shows the uniform of
a
petty officer second class..
|
Service Dress, Blue, A
(Officers)
.
The picture shows the uniform of
a SPARS officer
in the rank of Lieutenant
|
.
| * |
The Service Dress, Blue A for enlisted
personnel consisted of the following items: |
... |
*. |
The Service Dress, Blue A for officers consisted
of the following items: |
| *. |
Cap:
Soft brimmed for enlisted personnel
with navy blue cover |
|
*. |
Cap:
SPARS officer's cap with Coast
Guard officer's device and navy blue cover |
| *. |
Suit:
Navy blue jacket with matching
skirt.
Jackets for enlisted SPARS had
blue Coast Guard plastic buttons and a rating badge with specialty mark
or a distinguishing mark on the left sleeve.
The White Coast Guard shield was
worn on the lower right sleeve. |
|
*. |
Suit:
Navy blue jacket with matching
skirt.
Jackets for SPARS officers had
gilt Coast Guard buttons and reserve blue sleeve braids indicating the
rank.
The gold embroidered Coast Guard
shield was sewn above the braids on both sleeves. |
| *. |
Shirt & Tie:
Navy blue shirt worn with reserve
blue tie.
Reserve-blue shirt or white shirt
with black tie for dress occasions only. |
|
*. |
Shirt & Tie:
White shirt with black tie or navy
blue shirt worn with reserve blue tie
Reserve blue shirt with black tie
for work. |
| *. |
Gloves:
Black gloves, white gloves optional
for dress occasions |
|
*. |
Gloves:
Black gloves, white gloves optional
for dress occasions |
| *. |
Stockings:
Beige hose |
|
*. |
Stockings:
Beige hose |
| *. |
Shoes:
Black Oxfords or plain pumps with
2 inch heels |
|
*. |
Shoes:
Black Oxfords or plain pumps with
2 inch heels |
.
The service dress was made of navy blue woolen cloth. Officers were
allowed to obtain additional uniforms of worsted wool or gabardine for
spring and fall. The jacket had a four-button front and the collars had
rounded ends with peaked lapels. The jacket had two upper pocket flaps
(without real pockets underneath). Instead, there were two inside upper
pockets.
.
|
.
The 6-panel skirt had six gores with two inset pockets at the front.
Some jobs required the wear of slacks. These were made of the same
material and matched the color of the jackets being worn. The slacks were
pleated at the waist, had two side pockets and were closed with a zipper
fastener. Slacks for SPARS were introduced in early 1943. |
... |
.
|
.
Service Dress, Blue, B
.
Service Dress, Blue, B
(Enlisted Personnel)
|
...... |
The Service Dress, Blue B consisted
of the same items as Service Dress Blue A except that the cap was worn
with the white cover and white gloves instead of black ones.
.
Service Dress, Blue, B
(Officers)
|
.
A female style garrison cap for SPARS was authorized in early 1945.
The garrison cap worn with the service dress blue was made of navy blue
wool matching the service jacket and skirt.
.
Garrison Cap, Blue
(Enlisted Personnel)
|
... |
Garrison Cap, Blue
(Officers)
|
.
Service Dress, White
.
The Service Dress, White consisted of the following items:
| * |
white jacket with matching skirt |
| * |
white shirt with black tie |
| * |
cap with white hat cover |
| * |
beige hose |
| * |
white shoes and white gloves |
.
Service Dress White
(Enlisted Personnel)
|
.v |
Service Dress White
(Officers)
|
.
Officers wore navy blue sleeve braids with a gold Coast Guard shield
sewn above. The jacket was closed with gilt Coast Guard buttons. Enlisted
personnel wore a navy blue Coast Guard shield on the right sleeve. Qualified
personnel wore rating badges and distinguishing marks on the left sleeve.
The jacket was closed with navy blue Coast Guard plastic buttons.
A white handbag in the same style as the black handbag could be
carried with the Service Dress, White. The black handbag could have a white
fabric slipcover (but the black shoulder straps had to be removed).
.
Garrison Cap, White
(Enlisted Personnel)
|
... |
A female style garrison cap could be worn with the Service Dress,
White.
|
... |
Garrison Cap, White
(Officers)
|
.
Winter Overcoat
.
The overcoat for enlisted personnel was made
of navy blue woolen cloth. The double breasted front had a double row of
four blue Coast Guard plastic buttons. The coat was closed with three main
buttons on the left side. If necessary, it could be also worn buttoned
at the neck using the uppermost left button. The collar had rounded ends
and peaked lapels. The coat had two vertical, welted pockets at the front.
The wearing of mufflers made of white silk, rayon or wool was optional.
The white Coast Guard shield was worn on the lower right sleeve.
.
.Overcoat
(Enlisted Personnel)
|
... |
.
.
| The back of the coat was held by
a one or two piece half belt. The two piece belt was closed with two blue
Coast Guard plastic buttons. |
|
.
The overcoat for officers was the same as
for enlisted SPARS, except that it had gilt Coast Guard buttons and reserve
blue sleeve stripes indicating the rank. The Coast Guard officer's shield
was sewn above the sleeve stripes.
.
Raincoat.
.
|
|
.. |
The double breasted raincoat had a double row of five navy blue
plain plastic buttons and was made of navy blue, water repellent fabric.
It had raglan sleeves and a full belt. Its collar was convertible like
the overcoat collar. Additionally, it had a storm tab.
The raincoat was equipped with a removable liner. No distinctive
Coast Guard features and no insignia were worn on the raincoat.
.
.
A rain hat cover called "havelock" was available in winter and summer
weight material.
|
.
|
|
.v |
The havelock for summer wear was
made of navy blue water repellent material.
It was so constructed that it could
be worn over the hat with the brim fitting into a flap in front of the
havelock.
The full cut side of the havelock
hung down to the shoulders. |
.
.
[
I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the SPARS ]..[
III. Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources ]
|
