entry into World War II, most flat hats, but not all, had unit or ship names embroidered on the front. He said the hat was ‘girl-bait.’ The wider the flare the saltier you were.” The hats in that era flared out quite far at the top. “My father wore the hat in and around Boston in 1918. The choice between the two depended upon the whim of skippers at sea and shore-based commanders. After white hats were added to Navy issue, many sailors received both flat hats and white hats. If the skipper permitted, a white cover could be attached to the top of the hat to protect the wearer from sunlight during periods of warm weather. Records of the Naval Historical Center show that the flat hat was authorized in 1852, was standard throughout the American Civil War, and remained in use long after white headgear – much later given the “Dixie cup hat” appellation – was introduced as an alternative in 1886.Īt first, flat hats were made of dark blue wool known as Metcalf serge. This practice was discontinued during the early days of World War II. Two of the sailors where the “flat hat” with the name of their submarine, the USS O-3, embroidered on the front.
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