Battleships

Five shellback "medicos" surround a weary pollywog (one who crosses the equator for the first time) lying on a stretcher during ritual ceremonies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman from Brazil back to the U.S.A. (See also 66-1266.) From: Truman Home.

Sailors in costume and military and civilian personnel throng the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri as the Royal Court of Neptunus Rex holds ceremonies designed to turn pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time) into shellbacks. President Harry S. Truman (not shown), on his way back from Brazil, is one of the pollywogs. From: Truman Home.

Two shellback "medicos" help carry a pollywog (one who crosses the equator for the first time) feigning illness and lying on a stretcher during ceremonies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. The ship is carrying President Harry S. Truman on a return trip from Brazil. (See also 66-1266.) From: Truman Home.

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.

A cake prepared for lunch in the Admiral's cabin aboard the U.S.S. Missouri for President Harry S. Truman and Brazilian President Dutra. From: Truman Home.

Bess Truman, (3rd from left) lunches with the crew of the U.S.S. Missouri in the crew's mess hall along with all members of President Truman's party who sat at designated places at several tables. The President was enroute from Brazil after attending a conference. 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.

President Harry S. Truman (with binoculars), daughter Margaret, and Bess Truman stand on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri, witnessing the firing of five salvos from turret one of the ship's main battery during the return trip from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Norfolk, Virginia. (See also 69-325 and 92-2.) From: Truman Home.