American Military Patches, Other Insignia and Decorations of World War Two by Dr. Howard G. Lanham c. 2002

These marks appear within the Petty Officer Rating Badges. Ones that were on both winter (white on blue) and summer (blue on white) issue rating badges are shown. For more detail on the background of rating badges see John A. Stacey's U.S. Navy Rating Badges, Specialty Marks and Distinguishing Marks. Many of these designs were also used as distinguishing marks by those with additional qualifications or by non-rated men (seamen). When used as a distinguishing mark the design is by itself and not within a rating badge.

Aerographer's Mate	Airship Rigger	Aviation Boatswain's Mate	Aviation Carpenter's Mate

Aviation Electrician's Mate	Aviation Machinist's Mate	Aviation Metalsmith	Aviation Ordnanceman

Aviation Pilot (1)	Aviation Radioman	Boatswain's Mate	Bugler

Carpenter's Mate	Commissary Steward	Construction Battalion (2)	Electrician's Mate	Fire Controlman

Gunner's Mate	Machinist's Mate	Mailman	Metal Smith	Mineman

Motor Machinist's Mate	Musician	Photographer	Parachute Rigger	Pharmacist's Mate

Printer	Quartermaster	Radarman	Radio Technician	Radioman

Special Artificer	Ship's Cook	Ship's Serviceman	Shipfitter	Signalman	Sonarman

Storekeeper	Storekeeper V	Torpedoman's Mate	Turret Captain Embroidered	Yeoman

Specialist Letters

Mail Clerk Specialist Mark

A series of letter designations were worn in a lozenge to indicate specialists. In some cases the titles were modified during the war, but to simplify this I am picking a representative one.

A	Athletic Instructor	Q	Communications Specialist
C	Classification Interviewer	R	Recruiter
E	Recreation and Welfare Assistant	S	Shore Patrol
F	Fire Fighter	T	Teacher
G	Gunnery Instructor	U	Utility
I	IBM Operator	W	Welfare
M	Mail Clerk	O	Ordnance Inspector
P	Photographer	X	Specialist (Miscellaneous)

Notes:

1. On July 12, 1944 an instruction was issued replacing the illustrated gold mark with either blue or white ones similar to other rating badges. The original gold color had been chosen to reflect the gold of a Naval aviator's wing badge and was used on both summer and winter issue rating badges.
2. The Construcation Battalion (CB) Rating Badge was authorizated on May 2, 1942, but was revoked in December 1942 in favor of the badges of the appropriate specialties. The letters CB remained in use as a distinguishing mark, but even that was officially replaced by the CB shoulder sleeve insignia in 1944.