All Fireman are in the Engineering Dept and work in Firerooms, Enginerooms,Main Machinery space or in Repair,A gang, Electrical or Interior communications. Most of these guys from my memory came out of the apprentice training program with only the Mark on their uniform. When they arrived at their ship the command would assign them to the areas with the greatest needs ie Seamam would go to Deck Dept and Fireman generally to the Firerooms, Engierooms and Main Machinery Spaces. The patch combination you showed probably was worn by a guy who ended up as an Aviation Boatswainmate. From there the promise was that they could strike into any rate in the division. But that was a promise made by a recruiter that was ultimately determined by his ships command. Now this is the my view from a Destroyer in 1981 which is different than a Tender and vastly different than a Carrier all said its the Navy and about as clear as mud. Every time I saw these marks on a uniform I felt bad for them and saw it as a failure on the part of their Recruiter. 

To think there were millions of these made and in 50 years of collecting militaria, this is the first one I've seen!  I enjoy the personal items that tell the more mundane aspects of a soldiers life in service. Nice find.  Cheers, Armygas

Thank you. He’s a nice guy who figured it was just sitting around in his closet and it would be better off with someone who appreciates it.

Beautiful collection, thanks for sharing.

Agree completely, should be a 1960 issue if crimp over slot

Very nice jacket, and a very generous friend as well.

On references you might try this one.  It was published quite a while back but would likely have some useful information for you on Naval arms.  

I did a test fit of the trigger group parts last night. I was simply unable to compress the plunger spring enough to get the hammer pin inserted correctly. It looks so easy in the online videos. Gotta do some more thinking on this one 🤔.  mikie

Hello Everyone,  I just received this today. It belonged to the father of a new friend. His father was a Grumman field rep that according to him sailed on these ships for Grumman to give the navy technical assistance with certain aircraft.  The Tonkin Gulf patch has to be my favorite. I hope everyone enjoys the photos.