• Please take a moment and update your account profile. If you have an updated account profile with basic information on why you are on Air Warriors it will help other people respond to your posts. How do you update your profile you ask?

    Go here:

    Edit Account Details and Profile

Has anyone ever actually witnessed this ritual?

Alpha_Echo_606

Alpha_Echo_606

Does not play well with others!™
Contributor
In my case it was an overweight Chief that had a good size beer belly. Yep it is true to an extent in the days of not politically correct. The guy with the greased belly is King Neptune and the poor slob rubbing his face in said belly is a poor wog that crossed the line. It's called shellback imitation and a great time for most and hell for others! :icon_tong

Oh those were the days! :D
 
BusyBee604

BusyBee604

St. Francis/Hugh Hefner Combo!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Initiation

Offhand, I would estimate that at least half of the AWs who have at least one deployment at sea, have witnessed or undergone this ritual. Prior to the Indian Ocean/Middle East deployments starting in the early '80s, Sixth/Seventh fleet ships rarely ventured south of the Equator.
I became a Shellback in August 1962 the day before entering Rio, while bringing the [then new] USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) 'round the horn from Norfolk to San Diego. Fun ceremony (however a bit painful!).:icon_cryi:icon_cryi
BzB
 
NavAir42

NavAir42

I'm not dead yet....
pilot
The Blue Nose Ceremony has something similar. I got to experience that joy of water and ice on my second class middie cruise. It wasn't particularly painful, but it sure as hell was cold! I still have the card and the certificate is proudly hung on the wall of my office.

Edit: To answer the question, "Yup, taken part in it as well"
 
Alpha_Echo_606

Alpha_Echo_606

Does not play well with others!™
Contributor
I also have my blue nose and ditch cards; however we didn't have any formal imitation for them. Just crossing the line for shellback!
 
The Chief

The Chief

Retired
Contributor
Initiation into the Chiefs' mess, was interesting, not sure of redeeming value of the event. On our way aboard a Tin Can to south pacific, vic Christmas Island (Kiribathi Republic) to watch, monitor, measure and report of early 60's USSR ICBM launches from 6,000 miles away, resulted in long periods at sea, occasional air drop from a P2 for mail etc, infrequent oiler for petrol was a dreary existance for most of the crew. A slight detour to cross the equator provided crew with much needed distraction from the otherwise dreary days. Silly, but memorable. Many more crossings followed. Not quite as memorable.

Several other organizational initiations with which I have participated in were indeed memorable. All have their place in time.
 
Catmando

Catmando

Keep your knots up.
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Aw man, that ugly ritual really "crosses the line."
[Pun indeed intended. ;) :D Sorry. :icon_tong ]
 
K

KBayDog

Well-Known Member
"Ooh! Navy Seals!"

clerks_navy_seals.jpg
 
BusyBee604

BusyBee604

St. Francis/Hugh Hefner Combo!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Initiations

Alpha_Echo_606 said:
I also have my blue nose and ditch cards; however we didn't have any formal imitation for them. Just crossing the line for shellback!
Click to expand...
I guess a "ditch card" is for surviving an aircraft ditching? I would think the ditching experience itself is the initiation! As for me, I am a member of the Caterpillar Club. Having survived the ejection from a burning jet & rescue under combat conditions, was initiation enough for me.:snorkel_1 Fortunately, it is still considered a "politically correct" initiation, unllike the former Shellback & CPO follies!
Any other Caterpillars on board?
BzB
 
SteveG75

SteveG75

Retired and starting that second career
None
BusyBee604 said:
I guess a "ditch card" is for surviving an aircraft ditching? I would think the ditching experience itself is the initiation! As for me, I am a member of the Caterpillar Club. Having survived the ejection from a burning jet & rescue under combat conditions, was initiation enough for me.:snorkel_1 Fortunately, it is still considered a "politically correct" initiation, unllike the former Shellback & CPO follies!
Any other Caterpillars on board?
BzB
Click to expand...

"Ditch card" is for doing the "ditch" aka Suez Canal. With all the East Coast boats going to C5F, lots of people doing that now. No partying now due to ATFP (we did steel beach on my 1998 transit) though.

Not a Caterpillar here but a life member (#4582) of the Martin Baker Tie Club.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top