5 Replies Latest reply on Dec 30, 2016 5:55 AM by JACK BETZ

Navy service numbers

jay mardell Nov 5, 2016 4:20 PM

I have found what I believe to be a navy service number scratched into the end of a vintage martin acoustic guitar from (1952)

I believe service men put their numbers on their most cherished possessions .

The number is b246918.

Does anyone have any info on tracing a person through their service number ?

I do not have a name just the number.

I am trying to uncover some of the history of this item and maybe contact the family to let them know the whereabouts of this item.

Any help would be great I cannot find anything on the Web.

Many thanks

Jay

Re: Navy service numbers

Daria Labinsky Dec 22, 2016 5:37 PM (in response to jay mardell)

This doesn't appear to be a service number. Service numbers do not start with a letter.

This Wikipedia page includes information from the National Personnel Records Center regarding Navy service numbers. Service number (United States Navy) - Wikipedia
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Re: Navy service numbers

Megan Dwyre Nov 22, 2016 1:51 PM (in response to jay mardell)

We checked with one of our archivists who specializes in Navy records and he said he does not know of any way you can trace a serial number to an individual's name, but you may want to check with the National Archives at St. Louis to see if they can search the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) with only that information. The website is: Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests | National Archives. Sorry we could not be of more assistance!
Megan Dwyre, Textual Reference Operations, National Archives at College Park, MD
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Re: Navy service numbers

JACK BETZ Dec 29, 2016 12:57 PM (in response to jay mardell)

During the Vietnam War, the Navy used the "B" series for new enlisted followed by SIX numbers (10,001 to 99,999). This was used from 1965 to 1971. In 1972 they went to social security numbers. you can try a FOI request to National personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100. or fax the request to 314-801-9195. They may be able to back into an ID
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- Re: Navy service numbers
  
  Theresa Fitzgerald Dec 29, 2016 2:37 PM (in response to JACK BETZ)
  
  Actually, The National Personnel Records Center relocated 6 years ago. The address is: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Dr., St. Louis, MO 63138.
  
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  - Re: Navy service numbers
    
    JACK BETZ Dec 30, 2016 5:55 AM (in response to Theresa Fitzgerald)
    
    Sorry about that, I took it off my freedom of information request form that I use for American Legion grave registration ID requests. I usually use the fax #. The 1 Archives address is on the SF180 form.
    
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