usl 1927 ab cap badge mockup

This cap badge never existed.

In 1927, new a cap badge appeared for officers serving aboard USL ships – they featured an eagle over the house flag of the company. In later years, the eagle would denote membership in the USNR. Hense, as would commonly be seen – officers would wear badges with eagles and ABs would not. This was simply due to USNR status, not a command position. In 1927, if such a distinction existed between officers and ABs – and using the reproduction cap badge as a model – such a badge for ABs would appear thus:

A hierarchy of cap badges to denote membership in the USNR only appeared on the eve of the Second World War; it was worn by crew members of the SS America in February 1941. For the 1927 fleet, research is thus far inconclusive.