Regulator marking mystery

[Bryan]

Sticker label Royal. Has 328th #11 engraved on the can. I don't have any info that the Navy used Royals...At least there are no manuals or info that I have ever seen. Perhaps Bernie or someone can fill in the blanks as to whom it might have belonged to or it was used by?

[Popeye]

328th sounds like USAF to me? is this a Royal or Royal Aquamaster? Project Sea_lab had Royal and then Royal Aqua Masters, but they could pretty much buy any dive gear they wanted. I received my first Royal Master as soon as they were avilable from Tommy Thompson(he was a spokesman at U.S.Divers for a few years .

[capn_tucker]

Sea Lab III definitely had RAMs, because I have one of them. The only markings on it though are "Sealab #45" on the bottom box, and "#45" again on the top box..

[Popeye]

I just whistled "Anchors Away" near my regulator collection and my #15 Sea-Lab III RAM saluted me.(along with a few others)

[8dust]

[ScubaLady]

The history of this particular regulator will be very important to me.

Here's what little I found on the USAF 328th. Not being familiar with these units, I am not sure they would have included Divers as part of their group. Would love a history lesson from someone knowledgeable.

If it doesn't seem likely that this regulator would have been associated with the USAF 328th, please let me know and I'll be off to investigate some other "328th."

Thanks, SL

-----------------------------------------------

On 28 September 1945, the unit was redesignated as the 328th Troop Carrier Squadron and it's parent unit was redesignated the 512th Troop Carrier Group, respectively. Prior to being deactivated in December 1945, the unit earned a distinguished Unit Citation and four campaign streamers.

The 328th TCS was reactivated in the Reserve in 1948 at Reading, PA, again as part of the 512th TCG. It was called to active duty during the Korean conflict from March thru April in 1951. Beginning on 14 June,1952, the Squadron flew C-47 aircraft at New Castle County Airport, Delaware. On 16 November, 1957 the 328th moved to Paine Field, Everett, WA, and then to Niagara Falls, NY, on 25 March, 1958 where it converted to C-119 aircraft.

On 28 October 1962, along with it's parent wing, the 512th, the squadron was recalled to active duty at home station during the Cuban missle crisis.

On 11 February 1963, as part of a Reserve wide reorganization, the 914th TCG was created and activated as the new parent unit for the 328 TCS.

On 1 July 1967 the 328th Troop Carrier Squadron was redesignated as the 328th Tactical Airlift Squadron and converted to C-130A aircraft in December of 1970, which it continued to fly until June of 1986 when they converted to C130E aircraft. The unit then assumed command of Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base on January 1, 1971.

[Popeye]

It was just a tought, I will be interested in what you find,where did you get it? can you back track it's owners?

[Bryan]

I had it Bernie. I had it for a while and just got around to getting it dive worthy again. Sorry but I don't know anything else about it.

[YankDownUnder]

328th is also a US Army Engineer unit. It is common for diving equipment to be used by Engineers, Transportation Corps and Special Forces. They are also available to be checked out for sporting use by the Special Services units on many military installations. Just thought I'd add to the confusion. Steve

[captain]

328th is also a US Army Engineer unit. It is common for diving equipment to be used by Engineers, Transportation Corps and Special Forces. They are also available to be checked out for sporting use by the Special Services units on many military installations. Just thought I'd add to the confusion. Steve

I think you nailed it.

[JES]

328th is also a US Army Engineer unit. It is common for diving equipment to be used by Engineers, Transportation Corps and Special Forces. They are also available to be checked out for sporting use by the Special Services units on many military installations. Just thought I'd add to the confusion. Steve

I think you nailed it.

My thought as well.

[sitkadiver]

Sea Lab III definitely had RAMs, because I have one of them. The only markings on it though are "Sealab #45" on the bottom box, and "#45" again on the top box..

Capt. Tucker,, (or anyone else that might know.)

Were you able to verify that your reg was actually from the SEALAB project? I cannot seem to find any USN documents that point me towards a serial number/SEALAB # cross reference.

I have a RAM marked SEALAB #36 on the front below the label, #36 on the back and #36 again on the yoke. Mine is a long yoke/tire yoke screw reg. When I got it, it was completely coated with silicon grease. on the inside and took a bit of work to get it clean.







Sorry for reviving an old, thread, but this seemed like the most comparable fit.

[jiguad]

Nothing that could help to answer, but this is a very nice photography of Sealab project in 1968 and taken by LIFE magazine:

Legend says: Bob, Barth, Scott, Carpenter, Sealab Aquanaut project 1968.

[8dust]

Nothing that could help to answer, but this is a very nice photography of Sealab project in 1968 and taken by LIFE magazine:

Legend says: Bob, Barth, Scott, Carpenter, Sealab Aquanaut project 1968.

it may have been taken out of a Life magazine, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't taken by anyone from Life... unless he was standing in Popeye's flipflops, or our Navy man was freelancing for Life...

What's the rest of the story, BC?

p.s. - that's Wilbur Eaton, another important contributor to the Sealab story, standing next to Mr. Carpenter, or so says the taker of the photo.

[sitkadiver]

We'll definately need to hear from BC on this one.

My guess is that it's from SEALAB II, which was in 1965. I found a reference to a Life article written by Scott Carpenter in the October 15, 196 5 issue of Life. However, when I looked up a table of contents for that issue I could not find the article or the author listed. I'm pretty certian 'Life' would have listed a Mercury Astronaut and SEALAB aquanaut if he had written such an article.

I beleive the man on the left shaking hands with the diver is Bob Barth, the reference from above states he is shaking hands with Wilbur Eaton, Scott Carpenter is the other diver. I believe the two men on the right with white hard hats are Mazzone and Bond. Bond, being the second form the right, looks correct, but when I enhance the name tag it has too many charaters. Was rank included on Navy name tags? (Does his name tag say "Papa Topside"???)

EDIT: Found this thread on a Rolex site: Looks like Eaton is wearing a Rolex.

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/n ... anaut.html