Uniform Question

[Bill Kambic]

When did baseball caps become part of the Naval Uniform, both
officially and unofficially?

I have seen photos circa 1940 of Army Air Corps line mechanics wearing
something similar. There are newsreels from 1942 showing ADM Halsey
in a ballcap with a rather large bill. I've seen photos and newreels
of other senior officers in similar headgear.

Did they begin in the Air Navy? They are pretty practical working
around recipricators (I guess nothing is appropriate around "hot
tubes" ;-) ).

I've got some historcial "coffee table" books I'll review to see just
how early they show up. I was hoping one of the group may have a
definiative answer!!! :-)

[George Shirley]

Bill Kambic wrote:
> When did baseball caps become part of the Naval Uniform, both
> officially and unofficially?
>
> I have seen photos circa 1940 of Army Air Corps line mechanics wearing
> something similar. There are newsreels from 1942 showing ADM Halsey
> in a ballcap with a rather large bill. I've seen photos and newreels
> of other senior officers in similar headgear.
>
> Did they begin in the Air Navy? They are pretty practical working
> around recipricators (I guess nothing is appropriate around "hot
> tubes" ;-) ).
>
> I've got some historcial "coffee table" books I'll review to see just
> how early they show up. I was hoping one of the group may have a
> definiative answer!!! :-)
>
I went into the Navy in June 1957 and the ball cap was a standard issue
at that time. We wore them with our dungarees only. I was an Airedale
for 2.5 years and did my last year on destroyers, we wore them in both
branches on a routine basis. My flight "uniform" was either the Indian
orange or the tan coveralls with a ball cap. Can't speak for when they
became an issue item but know they were issued from 1957 to 1963 when I
was discharged.

George

[B.C. MALLAM]

On 8/26/07 9:30 AM, in article ,
"George Shirley" > wrote:

> Bill Kambic wrote:
>> When did baseball caps become part of the Naval Uniform, both
>> officially and unofficially?
>>
>> I have seen photos circa 1940 of Army Air Corps line mechanics wearing
>> something similar. There are newsreels from 1942 showing ADM Halsey
>> in a ballcap with a rather large bill. I've seen photos and newreels
>> of other senior officers in similar headgear.
>>
>> Did they begin in the Air Navy? They are pretty practical working
>> around recipricators (I guess nothing is appropriate around "hot
>> tubes" ;-) ).
>>
>> I've got some historcial "coffee table" books I'll review to see just
>> how early they show up. I was hoping one of the group may have a
>> definiative answer!!! :-)
>>
> I went into the Navy in June 1957 and the ball cap was a standard issue
> at that time. We wore them with our dungarees only. I was an Airedale
> for 2.5 years and did my last year on destroyers, we wore them in both
> branches on a routine basis. My flight "uniform" was either the Indian
> orange or the tan coveralls with a ball cap. Can't speak for when they
> became an issue item but know they were issued from 1957 to 1963 when I
> was discharged.
>
> George
I started NAVCAD training in the Summer of '58 and left the Navy in early
'69 and never was issued or knew anyone that had a ball cap.


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[George Shirley]

B.C. MALLAM wrote:
> On 8/26/07 9:30 AM, in article ,
> "George Shirley" > wrote:
>
>> Bill Kambic wrote:
>>> When did baseball caps become part of the Naval Uniform, both
>>> officially and unofficially?
>>>
>>> I have seen photos circa 1940 of Army Air Corps line mechanics wearing
>>> something similar. There are newsreels from 1942 showing ADM Halsey
>>> in a ballcap with a rather large bill. I've seen photos and newreels
>>> of other senior officers in similar headgear.
>>>
>>> Did they begin in the Air Navy? They are pretty practical working
>>> around recipricators (I guess nothing is appropriate around "hot
>>> tubes" ;-) ).
>>>
>>> I've got some historcial "coffee table" books I'll review to see just
>>> how early they show up. I was hoping one of the group may have a
>>> definiative answer!!! :-)
>>>
>> I went into the Navy in June 1957 and the ball cap was a standard issue
>> at that time. We wore them with our dungarees only. I was an Airedale
>> for 2.5 years and did my last year on destroyers, we wore them in both
>> branches on a routine basis. My flight "uniform" was either the Indian
>> orange or the tan coveralls with a ball cap. Can't speak for when they
>> became an issue item but know they were issued from 1957 to 1963 when I
>> was discharged.
>>
>> George
> I started NAVCAD training in the Summer of '58 and left the Navy in early
> '69 and never was issued or knew anyone that had a ball cap.
>
>
I was enlisted, it was an item of uniform issued through small stores.
Some CO's didn't like them and then the EM's wore white hats and, on
occasion, the flat hat in the winter. Different birds.

George

[J.McEachen]

In VAH-5, CAG-8, on Forrestal in 1961-63 flight crews had red ball caps.
We wore them from the ready room to the a/c, with our flight helmets
in o/d carry bags. I have a flight crew photo from 1961 with all 13
crews on the flight deck lined up alongside an A3D. As PIO, I remember
asking several to put the caps further back on their heads so we could
see their faces, then I took my place. The Forrestal '61 cruise book is
filled with sailors with dark blue ball caps. I also see other
squadrons, mainly officers, with ball caps with the squadron id on the
front (i.e., VA-81). For RON's and cross countries, I always had a
fore'n'aft/p***cutter cap in a flight suit pocket.
J.McEachen VAH-5


Bill Kambic wrote:
> When did baseball caps become part of the Naval Uniform, both
> officially and unofficially?
>
> I have seen photos circa 1940 of Army Air Corps line mechanics wearing
> something similar. There are newsreels from 1942 showing ADM Halsey
> in a ballcap with a rather large bill. I've seen photos and newreels
> of other senior officers in similar headgear.
>
> Did they begin in the Air Navy? They are pretty practical working
> around recipricators (I guess nothing is appropriate around "hot
> tubes" ;-) ).
>
> I've got some historcial "coffee table" books I'll review to see just
> how early they show up. I was hoping one of the group may have a
> definitive answer!!! :-)

[vincent norris]

> I started NAVCAD training in the Summer of '58 and left the Navy in early
> '69 and never was issued or knew anyone that had a ball cap.

I arrived at Pensacola in June, 1949. Got my wings and commission in
the USMC at Corpus Christi in Feb. 1951. Got out in July, 1954.

I still have a khaki-colored ball cap with large bill that I picked up
at one of those places, although I can't remember which one.

I do recall wearing it with flight gear. It was useful to keep the sun
out of my eyes but not interfere with a headset.

vince norris