U.S. Navy bridge coats

[Doctor Damage]

POST #50 WITH UPDATED PHOTO LINKS

Real McCoy reproduction. Looks like a nice heavy coat, but that stupid patch on the chest ruins it. That tag is a good example of the potentially misleading "real" tags that reproduction companies put on repro clothing and which I am opposed to them doing.

 

[Doctor Damage]

POST #57 WITH UPDATED PHOTO LINK

Gene Hackman in "Behind Enemy Lines"

 

[Doctor Damage]

POST #87 WITH UPDATED LINKS

Screenshots of the USN website (top image is older version, bottom image is current). Here's the link:
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Refer...iform-Regulations/Uniform-Components/3501_39/

 

[Doctor Damage]

POST #133 WITH UPDATED LINKS

Here is the lightweight version of these coats, which you see being worn in some photos taken at the Army/Navy Game. The listing said "gore tex" and whether or not it's actually gore-tex these appear to be a lightweight waterproof version with a zip-out liner. Note that the hip pockets are accessed from the front, not the rear as in the wool coats; it's a small detail, but it suggests these were intended for a wider range of weather than the wool coats.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Cockpit USA, which usually makes repro flight jackets, is selling a bridge coat repro. Looks like a Fidelity coat (i.e. non-military spec) with some odd details.

 

[Doctor Damage]

This is a fun illustration of the 1941 uniform regulations. The officer holding the envelope is in a bridge coat with shoulder boards and rank braid on cuffs. (The officer in front has the boat cloak, which we all remember FDR wearing at the Yalta conference, and if you look closely you can see a seaman in the back in a peacoat).

 

[Doctor Damage]

The US Coast Guard Exchange website ( LINK ) lists medium-blue bridge coats available for purchase. The image below is from the website.



The photos below show Coast Guard cadets at presidential inaugurations.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The link below is for the US Naval Academy's uniform page:
https://www.usna.edu/UniformRegs/Chapter2-DescriptionOfUniforms/outerwear/index.php

 

[Doctor Damage]

1941... good view of a captain with four rank braids on cuffs and shoulder boards

 

[Doctor Damage]

keel laying of the USS Arizona on March 16 1914... the captain on the right is wearing the pre-1922 bridge coat, which more resembles an extra-long peacoat than the modern-day bridge coat

 

[Doctor Damage]

Robert Mitchum in "The Winds Of War"



Midshipmen at the Army/Navy game in crap weather.

 

[Doctor Damage]

just spotted this amazing photo on e-bay, date unknown
the officer second from the left is obviously wearing an early-version bridge coat

 

[Doctor Damage]

TR and Admiral Robley Evans circa 1907. Evans is wearing the early version of the officer's bridge coat, essentially an extra-long peacoat, before the introduction of the modern version we know today.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Admirals in Boston, circa March-May 1919. Three are wearing early model bridge coats, note the handwarmer pockets, rank lacing on the cuffs, and 14 buttons down the front.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Newer model bridge coats in various settings. The first two are cadets? at Harvard Stadium (no further info).



The photo below is from 1942 or 1943. The flag officer with his back to us is wearing a bridge coat, note the sword slit behind the pocket (visible below his left elbow). Note also the rank braid on the cuff, in this case for a rear admiral.



The photos below are wartime. Note the one admiral has his bridge coat buttoned up to his neck.



The photo below is dated 1929.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Arriving for the army/navy game in 1924.

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Doctor Damage]

from a 1942 guide to US military uniforms, badges, insignia, etc.

 

[Jakob From Wisconsin]

I found this at a thrift shop yesterday and am utterly baffled by it.
It's cut like a 1950s pea coat except for the extra length and made from identical color and quality Kersey as the issue coats. Matching brest pockets with a hidden internal divider about perfect for a pair of glasses and a pair of pockets sized for a pen (or cigar) are cut in the lining of both breasts. The outer pockets feature interesting scalloped button down flaps and the interior is lined in a dense course wool flannel.
All of this would lead me to believe it was a privately tailored garment but for a 1951 dated inspector stamp on the right sleeve liner, and q white paint stencil on the skirt.
It's a lovely jacket heavy, windproof, warm and very flattering to my figure but I alhave exactly no idea what it is other than perhaps a chief petty officer's bridge coat.

 

[Doctor Damage]

I found this at a thrift shop yesterday and am utterly baffled by it.
It's cut like a 1950s pea coat except for the extra length and made from identical color and quality Kersey as the issue coats. Matching brest pockets with a hidden internal divider about perfect for a pair of glasses and a pair of pockets sized for a pen (or cigar) are cut in the lining of both breasts. The outer pockets feature interesting scalloped button down flaps and the interior is lined in a dense course wool flannel.
All of this would lead me to believe it was a privately tailored garment but for a 1951 dated inspector stamp on the right sleeve liner, and q white paint stencil on the skirt.
It's a lovely jacket heavy, windproof, warm and very flattering to my figure but I alhave exactly no idea what it is other than perhaps a chief petty officer's bridge coat.

It's definitely not a bridge coat. It looks like a normal peacoat with normal proportions, except for those pocket flaps and the shoulder straps. The length is normal for a post-war peacoat (these aren't as short as many people think). I'm sure you're correct to speculate it was a custom-made coat for a senior petty officer, since it looks standard-issue enough to pass as standard-issue, but obviously has some non-standard-issue details a normal seaman wouldn't get away with. We'll likely never know. Interesting coat! thanks for posting photos!