WW2 USN/USMC aviation blue wool baseball caps

[MattS]

Lots of Marines wearing collar rank in those plus a few EGAs!

[67Rally]

The generic blue wool cap had much usage in the War and in the game. I have many original photos of armed forces baseball players wearing the caps (with and without emblems or lettering affixed).

 

1936-37: USS Smith's baseball team (my uncle is in this photo):

[67Rally]

The Pearl Harbor Vols:

[67Rally]

671 Tank Destroyers:

 

 

[67Rally]

7th AAF (Ferris Fain):

 

 

[67Rally]

7th AAF (some dude):

[MattS]

7th AAF (some dude):

40807596132_d98e196d66_z.jpg

 

Some dude named "Joe" I believe!

[67Rally]

1943-44 Marines home cap:

[67Rally]

...with Uniform:

[67Rally]

One from the underside:

[67Rally]

 

Some dude named "Joe" I believe!

 

Haha...wasn't everyone "named" Joe...or Mack?

[67Rally]

Though it is a different shade of blue, I have this one, too:

[dustin]

For clarification wool caps were standard stocked itme for aeronautcal matterials Class-37 avaiable in three colors of Red, Green and Blue. The blue is awfully dark boardering on black.

 

We illustaretd their use with Marine aviation activities but they are just as abundant with Naval aviation units as well, here are just a handful of examples.

 

[dustin]

Now this is just the tip of the iceberg, we can make a pretty comprehensive study of baseball style caps of other materials and patterns. but the focus here was wool. We can go on and on if everyone wishes.

 

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[MattS]

Wow, lots of photos and great info here! Did the 3 colors of caps correspond to particular fields or specialties (like the color of deck crew's jerseys on a carrier)?

[67Rally]

Now this is just the tip of the iceberg, we can make a pretty comprehensive study of baseball style caps of other materials and patterns. but the focus here was wool. We can go on and on if everyone wishes.

 

. caps.jpg

I have been doing this in terms of the baseball militaria perspective.

 

https://chevronsanddiamonds.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/game-worn-baseball-caps-of-wwii-3rd-air-force/

[Salvage Sailor]

 

As you get into the post WWII years you start to see Naval aviators getting customized ball caps from Asian suppliers. You can find those in pretty much all colors, including two-tone caps.

 

Here's a red Marine Corps squadron cap from the early 60's with the characteristic Asian embroidery.

 

1.jpg

 

2.jpg

 

We have lots of older threads showing these from all eras: site:usmilitariaforum.com navy ball caps

 

 

Not WWII......but it's mine & it's been worn across the Seven Seas

 

Japanese ballcap purchased at A-33 (Navy Exchange) Yokosuka, Japan

[pararaftanr2]

A few more thoughts on the subject. The blue wool caps issued to Navy and Marine aviators, from what I can tell, were made by several different manufacturers, as the number of stitch lines on the bill can vary between a low of two and up to eight. The vents in the crown can also be metal eyelets or stitched. This type of wool cap, in various colors, was the standard used as part of baseball uniforms well into the 1960s and 1970s. I had one in Little League in the 1960s. Colors other than blue (red and green), were introduced for issue to ground crewmen of CASUs, PATSUs and SOSUs in May 1945, per the Class 37 catalog.

 

This photo showing three famous Marines on Guadalcanal in November 1942, illustrates the variation in stitching on the bill.

 

 

 

[warguy]

Thanks for furthering this discussion, this is a great thread. here is my red ball cap with the ega on the front. looks early to me. Thanks again-comments welcome. Kevin

[pararaftanr2]

While Jerry's beautiful cap in post #2 is in unused condition, here is another example from the same veteran's estate (L. E. Walz), in salty condition. It has five lines of stitching on the bill, stitched vent holes and has been adorned with a religious medal on the side and what appears to be a locker tag on the front:

 

[MattS]

Beautiful caps! Kevin's red USMC cap has one row of stitching and metal grommets while the one above has five rows and stitched holes. Great comparison!

Jerry, could we see close-ups of you cap?

[jerry_k]

Thanks for photos Kevin. It looks you cap is for sure vintage probably a WW2. I see no nylon components inside. Some post war cap have nylon mesh sewed at the top of the hat.

 

Here is my one - photos from auction (Im out of home right now).

 

 

 

 

[jerry_k]

Here my old collection example of the same cap, similar but different construction inside with cotton mesh and more stitches at the bill.

 

 

 

 

[jerry_k]

Interesting example from VMF-224 pilot - photo was found at internet some time ago. This is typical baseball cap from Boston Red Sox (thanks for Paul and his eagle eye, I missed a B at first look at the cap).

 

Regards,

Jerry

[MattS]

Interesting example from VMF-224 pilot - photo was found at internet some time ago. This is typical baseball cap from Boston Red Sox (thanks for Paul and his eagle eye, I missed a B at first look at the cap).

 

Regards,

Jerry

 

That is a killer cap!