The same size device was used on both the peaked and garrison caps.Ĭommissioned officers, warrant officers, and chief petty officers qualifying as aviation pilots wore miniature aviation insignia ("wings") on the left side of their garrison caps. The miniature device was to be 1-1/2 inches in height consisting of the same gold fouled anchor and silver "U.S.N." design used on the peaked cap.Ĭooks and stewards wore a device consisting of the letters "U.S.N." in gold on the left side of their garrison caps. Chief warrant officers wore silver corps devices on the right side of their caps and a miniature cap device on the left side.Ĭhief petty officers wore a miniature version of the CPO cap device on the left side of their garrison caps. Warrant officers wore gold corps devices on both sides of their garrison caps near the front. The miniature cap insignia was the same Navy shield design worn on the commissioned officer's peaked cap except that it was to be 1-1/4 inches in height. Note the wave in the apron of Navy garrison cap in the middle this unique design characteristic can be used to identify Navy garrison caps.Ĭommissioned officers wore their rank insignia on the right front of the cap and a miniature cap insignia on the left front. Top to bottom: US Army Enlisted Man's khaki cotton garrison cap, US Navy khaki cotton garrison cap, and US Marine Corps enlisted man's khaki cotton garrison cap. Additionally, the apron upturn was to be 3-1/4 inches at the front slanting to 2-1/2 inches in the rear creating a distinctive rolling wave pattern, which gave the cap its distinctive appearance. Overall, the cap was to be three (3) inches in height at the front and four (4) inches in height in the rear.
When made to correct specifications, the cap was to be rounded and without points at both ends, and the back was to be taller than in front by one (1) inch. The cut of the Navy cap gave it a distinctive appearance when compared to garrison caps worn by the Army and Marine Corps. Wool caps were lined, usually with rayon, and had a leather sweatband stitched to the inside. Cotton caps were unlined and constructed of the same material throughout, including the sweatband. There was no difference between officer's and enlisted men's caps in appearance and construction materials. Caps could be made from a variety of materials including cotton twill, lightweight tropical wool, broadcloth, kersey, elastique, serge, or whipcord. Navy regulations called for a soft foldable cap that was to be made of the same material, color, and texture as the uniform being worn. The small, foldable, easily cared for cap was a significant convenience to thousands of Navy personnel shipped overseas to busy combat zones during the war and especially so when compared to the care requirements of the much more fragile peaked cap. When use of the garrison cap was expanded it remained an optional piece of equipment for both officers and enlisted men.Īdoption of the garrison cap during wartime was purposeful in that it helped conserve materials, freed stowage space, and made outfitting for new personnel less expensive. Additionally, at this time the garrison cap was approved for wear with the standard blue and white service uniforms and all shades of the working uniform. Then, in February 1943 authorization for the use of the garrison cap was expanded to include all Navy personnel who wore the peaked cap. Navy pilots wore garrison caps with their green and khaki working uniforms and attached miniature aviation insignia to the left front. Prior to the outbreak of WWII, garrison caps were authorized as optional equipment for officers, warrant officers, and chief petty officers designated as naval aviation pilots.
Cap manufacturers and sellers sometimes printed or embossed their logos on the leather sweatband. Also shown is the size label attached to the sweatband seam. Pictured above is a close-up of the leather sweatband inside the khaki wool garrison cap. Navy regulations stipulated that garrison caps had to match the uniform in material, color, and texture.
Wool garrison caps were fully lined and had leather sweatbands. Size tariffs were sometimes applied by ink stamp directly to the inside of the cap.Īn inside view of the khaki wool garrison cap. This picture above shows a close-up view of the sweatband and cloth size label found inside the gray cotton cap. The white stitching seen on the inside was added to close the expansion pleat running along the top of the cap this was a common practice during the WWII era to make the cap sit taller on the head. The sweatband was made from the same 8.2 ounce cotton twill as the rest of the cap. Shown above is an inside view of the gray garrison cap. (touch or point mouse at picture for expanded view)
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