Flightpath Posted October 19, 2022 Share #1 Posted October 19, 2022 Hi, years ago I had a small photo of a pilot sitting in the cockpit of an F4F Wildcat, he was wearing what looked like a USN N-3 cap with a small set of USN wings (overseas cap size) on the front. Just wondering if anyone has photos of these N-3 caps being used by pilots and aircrew? Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 19, 2022 Share #2 Posted October 19, 2022 B-3? or N-3... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted October 19, 2022 Sorry, I was thinking N-3 cap but wrote B-3 for some reason......... So, N-3 HBT cap, fixed my post now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted October 19, 2022 Share #4 Posted October 19, 2022 I have seen pics of the N-3 with various insignia on them...try googling USN patrol bomber aircrew photos ...there are a lot of pics to scroll through with various headgear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share #5 Posted October 19, 2022 Thanks, I´ve been looking but can´t find a decent photo, there used to be a fairly common photo of a Catalina pilot in the cockpit (taken looking up from below the left shoulder) wearing what looked like an N-3. No hurry I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted October 20, 2022 Share #6 Posted October 20, 2022 Sure! You have to ask on our FB group. For sure there is more NAVY pilots enthusiasts than here:) Here you go - mixed B-1 and N-3 caps N-3 on the left? VD-1 squadron and four N-3 caps? Mixed - I guess two of them are N-3. Very characteristic - HBT material with greenish material under the bill USMC PBJ crew Cheers, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share #7 Posted October 20, 2022 Thanks for the great Jerry, in the first photo the gunner on the left has an aerial gunner's patch on his cap and a Gydeway compass hanging around his neck. Shows that it wasn't just pilot's that carried the compass. In the 3rd photo it looks like two rank insignia and a CPO cap badge on N-3 caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted October 20, 2022 Share #8 Posted October 20, 2022 57 minutes ago, Flightpath said: Thanks for the great Jerry, in the first photo the gunner on the left has an aerial gunner's patch on his cap and a Gydeway compass hanging around his neck. Shows that it wasn't just pilot's that carried the compass. In the 3rd photo it looks like two rank insignia and a CPO cap badge on N-3 caps. Yes sure. Compass was a standard survival item for all kind of aviation personel: pilot and aircrew. I love the b-1 cap and aircrew patch on it. Dream example! Good eye about bagdes on the 3rd photo. Take care, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted October 20, 2022 Share #9 Posted October 20, 2022 So the N-3 was an A-3 with a green under-visor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted October 20, 2022 Share #10 Posted October 20, 2022 N-3 is a Navy item. Similar constriction to AAF cap but not the same... i would not try to find any connection... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted October 20, 2022 Share #11 Posted October 20, 2022 Thanks. I had seen them before but have never owned one. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share #12 Posted October 21, 2022 Here´s my N-3 cap, it´s in nice used condition and will look good with a set of headphones over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted October 21, 2022 Share #13 Posted October 21, 2022 Classic look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share #14 Posted March 7, 2023 I found a nice condition wartime NAF headset, looks nice with my N-3 cap & Officer's badge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 7, 2023 Share #15 Posted March 7, 2023 Perfect look John! I hope you checked a metal plate around the cord and there is N288 contract - not N383? Thanks for photo. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted March 7, 2023 Can't read the tag around the cord but the "PATTENT APPL.D FOR" is on the speakers. Was told this shows WW2 manufactured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted March 7, 2023 Share #17 Posted March 7, 2023 Great display! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.C. Benoit Posted March 7, 2023 Share #18 Posted March 7, 2023 very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 7, 2023 Share #19 Posted March 7, 2023 4 hours ago, Flightpath said: Can't read the tag around the cord but the "PATTENT APPL.D FOR" is on the speakers. Was told this shows WW2 manufactured. For the bad luck this type of headset was made also post war. The best option before purshase is check the metal plate around the cord - n288 vs 383. They are identical only contract is different WW2 vs Post war. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share #20 Posted March 7, 2023 52 minutes ago, jerry_k said: For the bad luck this type of headset was made also post war. The best option before purshase is check the metal plate around the cord - n288 vs 383. They are identical only contract is different WW2 vs Post war. Jerry Paul Faulkner told me that If it´s marked `patent applied for´ these are WW2 made. With good lighting and a loupe looking at the metal tag I can make out: `HEADSET` and `CQF´ then (right where the crimp is) `NO als M356´. Maybe they are very early before a contract was marked on them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted March 8, 2023 Share #21 Posted March 8, 2023 Yes, he did tell you that, but it applies only to the earphones that are marked "patent applied for", not for the entire headset assembly. Jerry is also correct about different contract numbers for the headband assembly, some being WW2 and some post-war, but not all WW2 examples have contracts starting with "N-288". The tag in your photo just now has a contract number of NOa(s)-1356, which is also from WW2. Looks like you are good to go with earphones and headset both being of WW2 vintage. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 8, 2023 Share #22 Posted March 8, 2023 Yes, definetly there is NoA(s) which is also WW2, yeah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted March 8, 2023 Author Share #23 Posted March 8, 2023 21 minutes ago, jerry_k said: Yes, definetly there is NoA(s) which is also WW2, yeah! Oh: NOa(s)-1356... now I see it! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 8, 2023 Share #24 Posted March 8, 2023 Sorry to no mentioned about NOa(s) contract as WW2 also. Forget about this series😅😅😅. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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