Sailors aboard the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) take part in the time-honored 'Crossing the Line' ceremony, a naval tradition initiating 'pollywogs' who have not yet crossed the equator into the ranks of trusty 'shellbacks.' Presided over by a sailor costumed as King Neptune, these rituals provided morale-boosting entertainment amid the long stretches of Pacific service during World War II, and remain a beloved piece of naval folklore documented across countless shipboard photo albums. Project: 218428