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