A few USCG flat hats.

[TheCrustyBosun]

Here are a few of my USCG flat hats. I’m not sure of the age on the two blue ones, but the white one was used in the 60’s for sure. 

 

No name on the white one. 
 

First blue one belonged to a YN1 Puckett

 

Second blue one belonged to F. Wertsbaugh. 

[sigsaye]

The blue one named to Puckett, feels like WW2 (era). The way he wrote his rate Y2, then Y1/c were the pre and WW2 ways of writing Yeoman Second Class and Yeoman First Class. Not sure about the other one. 

[Military_Curator]

My grandfather was in the Coast Guard during Vietnam at USCG Air Station Elizabeth City. He has the white one in is shadowbox. One of these day's I'll surprise him with a recreation of his jumper. He remembered how the navy guys on shore leave in Norfolk would joke with him and his fellow coasties about the Donald Duck caps!

Parks

[patches]

Where these Navy Blue Caps still issued in the Coast Guard after WWII like the Navy one?

 

The White top one was way past the early 60s as seen here in 1967 on Jeff Bridges.

 

[TheCrustyBosun]

While digging through the ole cache, I located Y1/c Puckett’s leggings. Here they are. 

[Military_Curator]

On 10/4/2020 at 9:57 PM, patches said:

Where these Navy Blue Caps still issued in the Coast Guard after WWII like the Navy one?

 

The White top one was way past the early 60s as seen here in 1967 on Jeff Bridges.

 

I recall my grandfather (USCG during Vietnam) saying they did not have the navy blue ones during that time, retaining the whites. I'll email him tomorrow to confirm.

[TheCrustyBosun]

Well, I couldn’t help myself. I had to buy another. My first one is a 6 3/4 and a bit snug on my noggin. This one is a 6 7/8. Plus, I like even numbers. 🤪

 

 I wish I’d have taken before and after photos as the cover looks incredible now compared to how I received it. I worked pretty hard to achieve what you see now. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

Second photo came out distorted. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

One more time. 

[sigsaye]

On 10/4/2020 at 8:57 PM, patches said:

Where these Navy Blue Caps still issued in the Coast Guard after WWII like the Navy one?

 

The White top one was way past the early 60s as seen here in 1967 on Jeff Bridges.

 

Not sure when the CG dropped the blue cap. But the white ones were worn until 1975, when the CG changed their entire uniform. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

I was told that the one I just bought is from the 70’s because of the adjustable metal band within the tubular grommet. 
 

For as sharp as these look, they are not as comfortable to wear as the older more flexible blue hats. I think I have met my quota on the flat hats. Two blues and two whites are enough.  Maybe it’s time for a WWII CPO visor. The look of that anchor without the black backing has always looked classy to me. 

[sigsaye]

12 hours ago, TheCrustyBosun said:

I was told that the one I just bought is from the 70’s because of the adjustable metal band within the tubular grommet. 
 

For as sharp as these look, they are not as comfortable to wear as the older more flexible blue hats. I think I have met my quota on the flat hats. Two blues and two whites are enough.  Maybe it’s time for a WWII CPO visor. The look of that anchor without the black backing has always looked classy to me. 

I agree on the WW2 CPO uniforms. I also like the look of the Combination Cap anchor without the black backing. Prefer the 8 button blues and whites too. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

3 minutes ago, sigsaye said:

I agree on the WW2 CPO uniforms. I also like the look of the Combination Cap anchor without the black backing. Prefer the 8 button blues and whites too. 

8 buttons for sure!  One of the details I like about WWII uniforms are right arm and left arm rates. 

[sigsaye]

8 hours ago, TheCrustyBosun said:

8 buttons for sure!  One of the details I like about WWII uniforms are right arm and left arm rates. 

I was a Signalman, so would have been Right Arm. Interestingly, when the USN dropped the 8 button CPO blues, they did not change the CPO white coat. It remained 8 button (medium buttons, vice the large buttons on Officer and 6 button coats. Loved those. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

I struck BM. The USCG merged BM and QM together in 2004. Years before that, they merged QM and Signalman. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

Note: The white flat hat went into use on 01JUL1967 as per USCG press release dated 16MAR1967. 

[Survivalman]

The US Coast Guard dropped the blue flat at the same time as the US Navy; however, the US Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard continued to use the blue flat at least through President Herbert Hoover's funeral.  Specifically, the Death Watch and the body bearers wore the flat hats while the cordon & platoon members wore dixie cups.  I was a little shocked by the use.  When I was in the USCG Ceremonial Honor Guard (1972-1974) I had seen pictures of the test uniforms utilizing the blue flat hat; however, there was no indication that blue continued after 1 April 1963.  I was watching videos of Hoovers funeral from 10/1964 and there they were plain as day.