Large Named WWII Submariner Uniform and Insignia Group

A large grouping consisting of the uniforms, insignia, memorabilia, and photographs belonging to U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer William Francis Sakiewicz, who served on submarines from 1943 until 1963. During World War II he saw service on both the European and Pacific theaters of operation.

The group is comprised of the following items:

– UNIFORMS:

– Navy blue wool uniform, reefer jacket and matching trousers. The interior jacket label reflects that it was tailored by Gooodman’s of New London, Connecticut. The jacket carries a full size, pin back, Submarine badge, marked on the reverse with “Imperial”. Beneath the sub dolphins are three clutch back ribbon bars, with ribbons for the Navy Good Conduct Medal with three stars; the American Campaign Medal; the European Campaign Medal with one star; the Pacific Campaign Medal with one star; the Occupation Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Medal. On the left sleeve are four gold long service stripes, and above the stripes is the bullion rate for a Chief Petty Officer of the Quartermaster branch.

– Khaki service uniform, also tailored by Goodman’s of New London, which has four blue long service stripes on the left sleeve and, above them, the bullion rate of a Chief Petty Officer of the Quartermaster branch.

– Visor caps: There are two visor caps, both with interior basket weave construction, and both with the insignia of a Petty Officer on the peak. One cap, with a rainproof white top, is “The New Londoner” by Goodman’s. It has an interior name tag for Sakiewicz and identifies him as a member of the crew of the USS Sea Owl. A second, khaki top, cap is a Bancroft “Zephyr” model. It has an interior name tag for Sakiewicz and identifies him as a member of the crew of the USS Sailfish. The group also includes three additional khaki covers for the caps and one additional white top cover.

– INSIGNIA:

The group includes several large submarine patches. One is a World War II period patch for the USS Sea Leopard, embroidered on wool, about 6 1/2 inches tall by 7 inches wide. There is an embroidered patch for the USS Sea Owl, still attached to its large Gemsco card. The patch has a diameter of 5 inches. There is also an embroidered patch for the USS Sailfish, with ship’s tab, the patch having a diameter of 4 inches.

– MEMORABILIA

There is an assortment of memorabilia with the group which includes:

– The Navy dog tag of Sakiewicz and a named belt buckle for the USS Sailfish.

– Four service plaques: A brass plaque on a wood mount for the USS Sailfish, overall size of about 10 by 12 inches; a color, composite material, plaque on a wooden mount for the USS Sea Owl, overall size about 8 by 9 inches; a color, composite material, plaque for Submarine Squadron Eight, diameter of 6 1/4 inches; and a color, composite material plaque for the U.S. Naval submarine Base at New London, Connecticut, diameter of 5 3/4 inches.

– 15 black and white Photographs, most 8 by 10 inches in size, showing various submarines and Navy vessels. There is also an 8 by 10 copy of a photograph that was taken on the deck of the USS Sea Owl, showing CPO Sakiewicz wearing the blue uniform and white top visor cap that are in this group, shaking hands with a Lieutenant Commander.

– Artwork that includes an original, signed, watercolor painting, 18 by 24 inches, dated 1979, depicting a submarine with the number “312” on the conning tower, which would have been the USS Burrfish, likely the submarine on which Sakiewicz saw some or all of his World War II service. There is also included in this group a large black and white photograph of the Burrfish, 11 3/4 by 19 3/4 inches, which was obviously the basis for the painting. Finally, there is a piece of original signed color artwork, executed with acrylic paints, that almost appears to be a design for a type of proposed Navy breast badge. The work is 6 by 9 inches and depicts the bow of a ship, flanked o one side by a single dolphin of the submarine badge, and on the other side by a single wing of a pair of Naval aviator wings. Beneath the boat there are lightning bolts (or radio signals?), and the entire design is surrounded by a link chain. Whatever its intended purpose, it is an impressive piece of original artwork.

A large and compelling group to an identified American submariner who saw combat service around the world during World War II.

Must be packed in 2 boxes which total 21 pounds, the USPS is charging 85.00 to the west coast or 45.00 to the east coast.