The Quarterdeck Board: U.S.S Custer Original 1940s WWII Naval Artifact 6 Battle Stars

The Quarterdeck Board: U.S.S CUSTER: An Original 1940s Naval Artifact 6 Battle Stars

Price: $2,450.00 now $2095

This is a rare, museum-quality Quarterdeck Name-Board from the USS Custer, a decorated Bayfield-class attack transport. It served as the vessel's "front door," and was mounted at eye level near the gangway to greet every dignitary and sailor who boarded during its WWI commission. Unlike modern reproductions, this is a heavy duty, ship-specific identifier designed for the rigors of Pacific naval warfare.

U.S. Navy began aggressively seeking alternatives to wood signs the early 1940s.

The shift was primarily driven by fire safety. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Savo Island, the Navy realized that traditional wooden furnishings and signage were major fire hazards during combat. This led to a "strip ship" policy where flammable materials were removed and replaced with non-flammable alternatives. 

• 1940s (The Transition): While some ships still used wood, others moved to bakelite (a dark synthetic plastic) or painted metal for signage. Early fiberglass and composite experiments began in the late 1940s, though they were mostly for hulls and radomes rather than decorative quarterboards

• While "true" Bakelite was usually dark (brown or black), the Navy transitioned to these lighter-colored, fire-resistant "laminated" or "molded" plastics during the 1940s to replace heavy, flammable wooden name boards.

• Historical Context

  The "squared-off" board construction was the Navy's practical solution during the 1940s and 50s. Instead of hand-carving ornate wooden boards, shipyards could quickly machine these synthetic slabs, screw on standardized metal lettering, and bolt them to the bridge or superstructure. It was fireproof, rot-proof, and looked "clean" against the grey paint of the USS Custer.

  Because it's a sign from the actual ship and not a molded replica, those sharp edges are a hallmark of authentic military-grade fabrication from that era.

U.S.S. CUSTER (APA-40) WORLD WAR II HONORS

The Custer was a veteran of the "Island Hopping" campaign, earning six battle stars for:

1. Marshall Islands Operation (Feb 1944) Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll

2. Marianas Operation (June-July 1944) Capture and occupation of Saipan and Guam.

3. Leyte Operation (Oct-Nov 1944): Initial landings and reinforcements at Leyte Gulf.

4. Luzon Operation (Jan 1945): Invasion landings at Lingayen Gulf

5. Manila Bay-Bicol Operation (Jan 1945) Zambales-Subic Bay, La Paz landing

6. Okinawa Gunto Operation (April 1945): Assault and occupation of Okinawa. NHHC (.mil) +3

POST-WAR SERVICE

• Occupation of Japan (1945): Transported troops for the initial occupation, landing at Sasebo, Japan. NHHC (.mil) +1

 This piece was salvaged following the ship's decommissioning in 1946 and subsequent sale for commercial service

Artifact Details

Dimensions: ~39" L x 8" H x 1" Thick

Material: Heavy, marine-grade, reinforced fiberglass, designed to withstand the brutal salt-air conditions of the Pacific.

Aesthetic: Iconic raised black block lettering on a sea-white background. The substantial 1-inch thickness provides a physical presence and weight that modern reproductions cannot match