Oct 31

Happy Halloween from Naval History Blog!

Sunday, October 31, 2010 12:02 AM

yes, we know this photo wasn’t taken on Halloween but it has all the elements of a spooky Halloween! 

The Royal Undertaker, Torturer, Devils and Chaplain pose by the Royal Coffin during Equator Crossing Ceremonies on 6 July 1925. USS New Mexico (BB-40) was enroute to Australia.

 

Posted by NHHC in Uncategorized
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 
«
»
 
 
  • AL Wellman

    When Pan Am started its trans-pacific air mail service in the 1930s, some of their China Clipper aircrewmen were experienced nautical navigators. These men brought a unique line-crossing ceremony to the flying boats between the United States and New Zealand and Australia. Passengers crossing the equator for the first time were required to provide a dollar bill to be endorsed by those who had made the passage before. The endorsed bill, known as a “short-snorter note”, was returned to the initiate as a credential for future line-crossing ceremonies. The tradition continued on flying boats operated for the United States Navy through the second world war.

  • http://www.history.navy.mil NHHC

    Al, great story! thanks for reading and commenting!