In the early ‘40’s the navy had an issue blue wool ball cap like the ones seen in @Renegade One photo. They were eventually replaced by a lighter HBT cap that was khaki.
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Aviation Uniforms and Customs for the new ENS
- Thread starter jointhelocalizer
- Start date
In the early ‘40’s the navy had an issue blue wool ball cap like the ones seen in @Renegade One photo. They were eventually replaced by a lighter HBT cap that was khaki.
I remember reading something in Faith of My Fathers about John McCain Sr. wearing a green "cap" with an officer's insignia on it as a combat superstition.
Is this the one?
FIFY Well, because 'full deployment' and VP don't fit together.
Likely is. I imagine the many manufacturers of HBT considered “khaki” in the broadest sense of the word.
1310 XO and Air Boss on my LHD had the blue USN caps and wore them around the ship in lieu of the command ballcap. Looked very old school cool and made us feel like we were extras in Bridges of Toko Ri.
I posted this over in the WHICH Brown Shoe thread 18mo ago to address how to "fit in." I was always a bit more of a uniform rebel and was happy to push the envelope a bit while staying within the spirit or the official rules and command climate. Some of it comes down to your own risk tolerance to get challenged but I personally felt it was worth that hassle to be a bit more "unique." I had Greens when they were an approved uniform and wore them to stand SDO in lieu of the required uniform of the day. No one who mattered ever had an issue with it but it always resulted in some interesting questions from folks who weren't familiar with the uniform.
I've told this one before, but one day on the LHD we had a short underway and the old SWOs decided they were going to have a "throwback day" and all the O4s+ wore their wash khakis. Air Boss and I, not being filthy shoes, wanted no part in wash khakis so we busted out our greens. Only one who was upset was the 1310 XO who was hurt that we didn't include him in our reindeer games and let him wear wash khakis. Anyways, getting underway on a straight deck carrier from a Japanese harbor while big band music played over the 1MC while wearing greens and a leather jacket was a very "Toko Ri moment" We didn't use Spads to spin the ship though.
“Where do we get such men?”
Also, there are rumors that someone who matched my description may have been seen wearing a leather jacket (with patches!) in lieu of the SDB jacket while standing Sea and Anchor on the way in to Sydney.
Too perfect...now I have to watch Sand Pebbles and Bridges at Toko Ri tonight!
True...but Clinton Eastwood in a shower scene is just as ugly as a HO3S-1.
Definitely my spiritual predecessor! Let me also call your attention to his cowboy boots!
Turns out very few people notice if you wear cowboy boots with your uniform in tower...but those that do notice got a kick out of it.
Note to OP and other SNAs: I do NOT recommend this level of uniform shenanigans to SNAs, RPs, or unqualified fleet guys.