Naval ceremonies, honors, and salutes

President Harry S. Truman (1st row, center) watches ceremonies of the Royal Court aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying him back to the U.S.A. from Brazil, aimed at turning pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time) into shellbacks. A banner with skull and crossbones reads "Expect no justice." From: Truman Home.

Sailors aboard the U.S.S. Missouri (carrying President Harry S. Truman back to the U.S.A. from Brazil) practice whacking "pollywogs" (those experiencing their first equator crossings) who have been sentenced to "shillalah alley," a 60-foot double line of shellbacks armed with stuffed canvas billies. (See also 66-1273.) From: Truman Home.

President Harry S. Truman appears before Master Sgt. A. Waclawski, Royal Prosecutor of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main, to participate in a ceremony for those who have not previously crossed the equator to become a "Shellback." Margaret Truman in sun glasses stands next to Bess Truman in the background on the left. The President is aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, returning from Brazil. (See also 66-1299.) From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, carrying President Harry S. Truman on a return trip from Brazil, Captain Robert L. Dennison appears before "Davy Jones," clerk of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main in a "Shellback" ceremony for those crossing the equator for the first time. (See also 66-1285.) From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying President Harry S. Truman home from Brazil, pollywog Merriman Smith, newsman, stands watch for Davy Jones, emissary of King Neptune, during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time. From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time, a "pollywog" is pitched backwards into the Royal Tank where he is dunked by participating sailors. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman back from Brazil. From: Truman home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri during shellback ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time, a "pollywog" is pitched into the Royal Tank where he is dunked by participating sailors. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman back from Brazil. From: Truman Home.

Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on a return trip from Brazil, pollywog Merriman Smith (a newsman) is pitched backwards from a teetering chair into the Royal Tank where he is dunked by sailors anointed with a greasy concoction, during ceremonies for those crossing the equator for the first time. (See also 66-1325.) From: Truman Home.

A volunteer walks down "shillalah alley," a 60-foot double line of shellbacks armed with stuffed canvas billies, as they prepare to whack the pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time), a punishment meted out by the Royal Court during ceremonies held aboard the U.S.S. Missouri carrying President Harry S. Truman from Brazil to the U.S.A. (See also 66-1273.) From: Truman Home.

Members of a joint U.S.-British Conference on International Oil Resources that met for the initial exploratory session in Washington, D.C. Ralph K. Davies, Deputy Petroleum Administrator for War fifth from left; Charles Raynor, U.S. State Department Chairman sixth from left; Commodore A.F. Carter, US Navy seventh from left; Sir William Brown, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.B.E., Secretary of the Civil Defence Department and head of the British Delegation fifteenth from left; and Brigadier General Howard Peckham, US Army, Representing the War Department eighth from left and Commodore A.W.