Searching for a US Sailor with a photograph only

Hello WW2 Talk

I am wishing to find the identity of a US sailor who was stationed in Auckland New Zealand during WW2. I have a photograph of him in uniform but no further information.

Is it possible to identify someone with only a photograph?

Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

Marvellous

 

Post the photo and let the membership try?? You say in was stationed in Auckland, do you have dates?? Or any other information that could help (his trade or ship he may have been on, or US Navy shore establishment etc etc). Give as much info as you can and see if we can come up with something??

 

Here is the photo.

According to NZ History, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/us-invasion-first-american-troops-arrive-in-auckland, Americans were stationed in Auckland between June 1942 and mid-1944.

 

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/us-forces-in-new-zealand/the-camps



I believe he would have been in a camp at Mechanics Bay, Western Springs or one on the Auckland isthmus.

 

I imagine he was a Corporal?

 

He wears the undress Blue service uniform of a 2nd Class Petty Officer US Navy. If we are seeing a face on view of him the fact that his rating badge is on his left arm means he is not in the Seamans Branch.


U.S. NAVY UNIFORMS QUICK REFERENCE VISUAL GUIDE
USN WW2 Enlisted Ratings


The closest match I could find to the solid circular shaped specialist badge just above the chevrons is the globe badge of an Electricians Mate 2nd Class of either the Articifer Branch or Engine Room Force.


USN WW2 Enlisted Rates: Artificer Branch

Travers

 

Thank you very much for your help.
If I were to find the names of the ships in Auckland at that time, would I then be able to search the names of the men who held that position? Would the personnel records include a photo?

 

A helpful research guide here that may help-

Navy Personnel: A Research Guide

It looks like they are reopening their archives soon.

Scott

 

Marvellous,

Are you sure the photo was taken in New Zealand? Perhaps on the reverse of the photo.

I ask as the background indicates a wooden home. In the USA many homes are built with wood, not so sure about New Zealand.

 

I second the Electrician's Mate specialty. I worked cheek-by-jowl with them in the enginerooms.

And I've never seen a rating badge on the right arm. Weird.

 

Is it possible the image has been reversed from the original photo negative?

 

Thank you. That looks like a good place to begin.

 

Thank you. I'm almost certain it is taken in Auckland. The houses in NZ are wooden too.