Gunners mate testing

[Percolater]

Fingerprints on the tags were eliminated during WWII (Jan 1943) Ink on finger applied to metal, then finely powdered glisonite or asphaltum adhered to the ink until it dried. Heated to a temp slightly above boiling point of water and placed into a solution of nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and water for 1 hour. Imprint completed.

 

[Bugzilla]

Re: question 16.
I was surprised to see that they were still using sperm oil around 1940.
For the benefit of the uninformed and juveniles: it has nothing to do with reproductive function.

Sperm oil - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Good thing you clarified or they would think you were talking about the few jack offs on the ship.

 

[Percolater]

A 1943 typewriter was high tech back then.

 

[Percolater]

Train ticket from 80 years ago to enlist for Navy at Chicago’s Great Lakes Naval Station

 

[Percolater]

8-2-1945 airline ticket and baggage claim for flight home after ship retired and decommissioned

 

[TheJoker]

Re: question 16.
I was surprised to see that they were still using sperm oil around 1940. It has been illegal to sell for several years.
Whaling was banned worldwide in the late 1990s.
For the benefit of the uninformed and juveniles: it has nothing to do with reproductive function.

"the primary source of sperm oil was the spermaceti organ and the junk (or "melon"), the organs that serve to focus and modulate the animal's vocalizations.[5] A sperm whale's spermaceti organ may contain as much as 1,900 litres (500 US gal) of substance".

Sperm oil - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the late 70s, we added sperm whale oil to our differential grease to keep the clutches from chattering on GM's positrac rear end.