Non Naval aviator wearing squadron swag??? Cool or Uncool???

[Citation3]

Well, it finally happen here in Norfolk...

Running low on t-shirts I broke out the VFA-34 Smoking Joker shirt I pruchased at the Oceana Airshow a few years ago. Walking across the street I hear tires screech and a guy stops and yells out the window "Hey brother, you with 34?"...."No, I just picked it up at the airshow, I said" He looked a bit put off and sped away.

Should the collection of squadron swag be confined to the house only being worn while building models and wearing my super cool VFA -103 underoos.

Wearing squadron swag...Cool or Uncool??

 

[MIDNJAC]

I doubt anybody really cares either way, and if they do, who cares? If the squadron accepted your money (or even gave it to you for your awesome skills), then they probably intended for you to be able to wear it. We sell shirts at my squadron by the boxfull at hangar parties and the airshow, and I'm sure at least some percentage of them get worn. If I saw one on someone, I'd probably just ask out of curiosity if they were a squadronmatte, but if anything, I'd appreciate the support even if they had nothing to do with us.

 

[statesman]

Not been in a squadron yet, so take my opinion for what it is, but I wouldn't care... As long as they were upfront about where they got it, why, etc.

Don't be a skeeterman in other words.

 

[scoolbubba]

How do you think we pay for mando fun type things? We sell swag at airshows...to civilians. Wear it. Just don't regale people with your duels with Col Toom and start shooting your watch.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Wear it and be proud of it. You are showing support and I for one would be glad if you were wearing my squadron's shirt.

 

[Swanee]

I'm just a Primary stud, but I'd have no problem with it at all. The old man used to bring my brothers and I swag t-shirts back from different conferences and exercises or squadrons he flew with. We thought they were the coolest thing since sugar on cereal.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I'm just a Primary stud, but I'd have no problem with it at all. The old man used to bring my brothers and I swag t-shirts back from different conferences and exercises or squadrons he flew with. We thought they were the coolest thing since sugar on cereal.

And the flipside, I have given my old man t-shirts and other schwag from every squadron I have been in, which he wears in spite of the obvious emasculation he must feel being a retired P-2V guy wearing jet schwag..... I keed....I have nothing on those old cold warriors who flew at unspeakable low levels above the water, "didn't" violate sovereign Chinese and Russian airspace, and did so using lo freq ranges (found his old VT-land FTI on said ranges...that was good for a laugh).

Anyway, dude, you did the right thing in being honest, and if the guy was giving you an attitude, he was out of line.

 

[Pags]

And the flipside, I have given my old man t-shirts and other schwag from every squadron I have been in,

My Dad was never an Aviator, but he is a proud parent, and as such is always bugging for zaps and what not. I'm more than happy to oblige. I got him a personalized squadron mug when I put an order together a few months ago with his name and some wings on it. He got a kick out of it and I highly doubt he's going around telling his clients about how he shot down the hun.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

Had the same thing happen to me when I was wearing an embassy guard polo shirt one time.

Screw em if he really was upset.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Wear it and don't give it a second thought, if the squadron didn't want you to wear it they wouldn't have sold it to you. As scoolbubba said, they sell stuff to make money for other squadron functions.

 

[Boomhower]

Why wait until you are low on tshirts? You paid for it. Wear it.

At the same time, don't be an airshow nerd. Anybody that was ever on a squadron demo team will know what I'm talking about. Airshow nerds LIVE in squadron gear 24/7, wear booney caps, can and will name every airplane on the line or in the air, and ask random questions like "Who manufactures the wiring in your plane?"

 

[Citation3]

Why wait until you are low on tshirts? You paid for it. Wear it.

At the same time, don't be an airshow nerd. Anybody that was ever on a squadron demo team will know what I'm talking about. Airshow nerds LIVE in squadron gear 24/7, wear booney caps, can and will name every airplane on the line or in the air, and ask random questions like "Who manufactures the wiring in your plane?"

Damn...now you tell me. I just got dressed. I was sporting my spiffy new VP-30 hat, VFA-37 "Professional Bull Rider" thong, Black Lion Bash shirt (received for a model donation), a remove before flight VF-31 key chain, drinking beer out of my VAW-120 mug while cooking outside wearing my HSC-22 apron on the grill that I lit with my sweet ass World Famous Red Rippers Zippo lighter and some red high-top chucks. I guess I'll go change now into my low-key Fear the Bones tank top.

I'm glad it's only Wednesday. I wear the pilot wing necklace to church on Sundays and the SEAL trident one on Saturday.

I know the guy you are talking about...he's not me....but I have seen him at more than one model club meeting.

 

[MasterBates]

Yep.. And I've seen the type at airshows.

 

[A4sForever]

I don't know whether "it's cool or uncool" ... I just know what I'd do/what I did ...

When asked by some EOD guys at an airshow @ 10 years back to buy an EOD ballcap and/or T-shirt ... I demurred.

I said: "No thanks, guys ... I haven't EARNED it. I'm certain you wouldn't wear Naval Aviator Wings for the same reason".

At first, they looked at me like I had 3 heads ... they probably thought I was cheap ... but they recovered rapidly w/ big smiles when I tossed $20 into their 'kitty' and said 'thanks, Brothers' ...

 

[PhrogLoop]

One of my favorite pastimes is teasing my wife that when I retire, I'm going to take her to the mall on Saturdays wearing my hydraulic fluid stained green flight jacket loaded with Phrog patches and acid wash jeans and she'd better like it. Now that'll be cool...