Owen Posted October 14, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 14, 2007 In the 1960s-70s on USN carriers baseball caps with felt letters and numbers that spelled out the squadron were popular. Examples would include VF-101, VA-75, VS-33, etc. Does anyone know of a source for these today? Thanks, Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in VA Posted October 15, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 15, 2007 Contact the ship directly (or aviation unit, if that's what you're after.) It's always worked for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted October 15, 2007 I don't believe they use the adhesive backed letters any more. These days it's more of a direct embroidery process on the cap. My hope is to recreate a '60s flavor - the way it was..... I don't think contacting the squadron for 40 year old material would be productive. Can anyone else offer suggestions??? Thanks, Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 15, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 15, 2007 Since most of these caps were usually dark blue with simple letters on them (most often in yellow gold), why not make your own? Do a google search for iron on letters and you will vintage style letters available. The hardest thing may be finding the old style hats but again try google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted October 16, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 16, 2007 In the 1960's the Air Force also had organizational baseball caps. I still have one of mine. While stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, we would get new caps every year or so. A little old lady in a nearby town had a basement literally full of caps and felt letters. Each squadron had different colored caps with contrasting lettering. We also usually had our home state and first name embroidered across the back and sides of the cap. Some maintenance units wore a vinyl type cap of the same design, but it was made of that type material so they could be wiped off when they got greasy or dirty working on airplanes or equipment. I would like to collect these from any service, but they seem to be hard to locate on the collector market. Good luck in finding these. If you do, please post on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in VA Posted October 16, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 16, 2007 I don't think contacting the squadron for 40 year old materialwould be productive. Can anyone else offer suggestions??? Thanks, Owen Well Owen, I know a couple of my USN ball caps with embroidered letters date from the mid- to late 1960s. Nonetheless, contacting the squadron or ship's gedunk seems like a more logical place to start than simply tossing things to the wind. The best way to find these sorts of things is by networking. You make it sound like you want someone to say "Walmart had a whole rack of 'em last week." Forty-year-old material generally just isn't laying all over the place in large quantities. However you may feel, (pay attention), contacting the squadron/ship is a logical first step. The PIO can likely to put you in contact with the unit historian who knows of a source for the cap you seek, or perhaps an old timer from the squadron/ship who has what you seek and will give you one, or knows of a source made for a reunion, etc... Think again before blowing off a suggestion as "unproductive." Otherwise, do like Admin suggested and make your own repro of the cap you seek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted October 17, 2007 Dear Bill, Thank you for your gracious welcome to the forum for the new guy. I feel properly chastised and am now paying attention. Perhaps you, in your infinite knowledge and wisdom, could provide me with the email address for the PAO of VFP-62 and VA-75, both of which have been disestablished for years. I will take your suggestion and email the PAO of some of the current squadrons. I will post any replies I receive here your your edification and everyone else's entertainment. Regards, Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROC Posted October 17, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 17, 2007 Hi Owen About USN 1960s ball caps for carrier based units, you should beware that the colors usually followed MIL-I-18464 depending on the squadron mission Fighter squadrons VF : Insignia Red and Orange Yellow Attack Squadrons VA : Light blue, International orange and light green Reco Squadron RVAH VFP : black Early warning squadron VAW : insignia blue ECM squadron VAQ : Marron ASW squadron VS : green Helo squadron HC HS : Magenta and by april 1970 (OPNAVINST 3710.7E) based on the squadron Modex 1st squadron 1xx : insignia Red 2nd squadron 2xx : Orange Yellow 3rd squadron 3xx : light blue 4th squadron 4xx : international orange 5th squadron 5xx : light green 6th squadron 6xx : Black 7th squadron 7xx : insignia blue 8th and 9th squadron 8xx, 9xx : marron Regards croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted October 17, 2007 Hi Croc, Thanks for the note. I appreciate you taking the time to write. I was not aware of the color coding. The vets from VFP-62 told me their caps were maroon and the guys from VA-75 said navy blue. Around 1970 aa aviator gave me one from VF-101 that was navy blue. Till now I thought it was an individual thing. Always more to learn..... Blue skies, Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROC Posted October 17, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 17, 2007 I'm back, About VF 101 it didn't have to follow carrier rules because it was a shore replacement unit Best Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in VA Posted October 17, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 17, 2007 Save the drama, Owen. You weren't exactly clear on who/what unit you're looking for, so you carry the blame for the vague answer you got. if you want a more specific answer to your question, you'll need to be more specific in your question. What you want is something you're probably going to have to acquire from a veteran. Nonetheless, the logical place to begin your search would likely be by contacting the Navy. Have you even considered contacting contacting NAS Ocenana as a logical starting place for VA75? No doubt domeone in their airwing knows someone who served with VA75 during the Vietnam War (or am I pre-supposing too much?) who might know someone who knows someone else who can help you in your quest. The same holds true for VFP62. Contact NAS Cecil Field. Granted, you might actually have to use the US Mail to reach some of the older vets who may have/know where can find what you seek. Case in point, VPB53...the "Black Cats." They were disbanded after WWII. But getting ahold of veterans is an easy deal. The US Navy has put me in touch with some of the veterans' organizations, who in turn have put me in touch with plenty of veterans. I've had the same luck with the USAF in getting ahold of former/Vietnam War era members of the 23rd TASS. My collection now holds theater-made patches, stone cold mint blood chits, flight logs, photographs, etc... Before you go copping an attitude with someone who's willing to point in a viable direction, stoip and think. Perhaps the "new guy to the forum" (your words) would be better served by listening more and criticizing less. You asked for help, were given some, and copped an attitude when you weren't told "fire off an email to LtJG Smith at tons-o'-vintagegear.com...he's got warehouses full of old ball caps." BTW, www.google.com is also a good friend to know too. http://www.ussindependencecv-62.org/gwf/va75.html http://virtualaviation.tripod.com/index.html http://www.vfp62.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgkusmc Posted October 22, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 22, 2007 Gentlemen lets all be friends, have you tried looking at vintage baseball cap sites? You can prolly find the cap your looking for (well the material kind) buy it and then put the felt letters on yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeBayonet Posted November 19, 2007 Share #13 Posted November 19, 2007 Try these folks: M & G Sales Co Inc Address: 2609 Granby St # 17, Norfolk, VA 23517 Phone: (757) 622-9065 (sorry - no website) They have a huge stock of original USN (and some USAF and USMC) baseball caps, most tend toward 80's-90's vintage (i.e. nylon, mesh back) but last time I was there they had a couple 60's vintage (small) sized wool caps - it might be worth your while to check... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 20, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 20, 2007 I'd suggest eBay as a good place to start. It might take a while to find specific squadrons, but plenty of estates have been opened of vets from the 60s and 70s and their ballcaps have come out of the woodwork. As for me, I used to own a good number that I bought at thrift stores when I was a kid. I think I chucked them all when I got my own that I wore "for real" though. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted November 28, 2007 Share #15 Posted November 28, 2007 I was just in a craft store with my wife this weekend (she has discovered "scrapbooking"). On the one aisle I found a bag of precut felt letters that were about 2 inches high. These would make a pretty good imitation of the felt letters used on vintage hats. I am sorry to say that I did not get the name of the manufacturer. Now if you can find some felt or wool baseball caps, you can be in business! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
103 Posted January 12, 2008 Share #16 Posted January 12, 2008 You could always try www.ballcap.com They will make anything you want, but I don't know if their materials are "new" enough for the 1960s. I had them make a 1933 University of Florida baseball team cap and a 1954 UF cap. Both were extremely well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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