Why were some gob hats during the war died darker colours? In photographs I've seen they range from grey to black. Also are there different ways to fold form your hat, and did they mean anything other than personal style? Thank you J
What is a gob hat? I've never heard this term. Do you have a picture or could you describe it's appearance?
I've been in the USN for nearly a third of the 20th century and never heard the term "gob hat." What is a "gob hat?"
Sorry, I've heard the USN dixie-cup sailors hat called a Gob hat.. I'm also very interested in USN working uniforms, the issue dates and variations of them and the deck jacket. I am a fan of USN jacket. I own a wWW2 g-1, a couple of N-1's a couple of ten button Pea-coats (the best one), and a couple of other navy jackets USN uniforms seem to be not as well documented as other branches of service. there is a pic on an USS Indianapolis website that shows a crowd of Black sailors wearing uniforms I've never seen. Link below Thanks J
Schiffer Books publishes a 5-volume series by Jeff Warner documenting the full range of USN uniforms worn during WWII. Though a bit pricey, they should have what you're looking for about working uniforms. According to Osprey's The US Navy in World War II, the "dixie cup" sailor hats were sometimes dyed dark blue aboard ship, and sometimes other colors to identify the sailor's duty station. Colors appear to have run from white to medium colors to dark blue.
The US Navy had two hats for enlisted during WW 2. The first was generally called the "flat hat." It was similar to those used by many European navies having a soft top, like a beret, and a hard lower edge with a tape with the ship's name on it. US sailors generally disliked to dispised this hat and it was generally called the "Donald Duck" hat. The other is the soft white hat or in slang, "dixie cup" or "dog dish." It is supposed to be worn "four blocked." That is it should have a square appearance with the edges slightly rolled. On sea duty you might see the brim rolled down rather than up in some cases. Although this not regulation it was done for sun or rain protection in some cases and allowed at sea. Also note that WW 2 US Navy uniforms at least for enlisted ranks below CPO were also noticably more blue than they are today. Today "Blues" are really black. In WW 2 they were a deep blue color not black. Working uniform "dungarees" the pants are new blue jean colored with the shirt or jumper top being a medium blue. These had rank insignia either sewn on like other uniforms or sometimes they were stenciled on instead. The three stripes of white piping on the Dress Blue enlisted uniform were for ranks E-1 to E-3 with one stripe being worn for each of those ranks. Petty Officers had the three stripes also on their uniforms. Orgainzational clothing was also issued. A olive green coverall "Green Weenie" was issued for dirty work and personnel like engine room crew. A foul weather jacket in olive drab was also issued. This was a heavy cloth waist length jacket with either a button or zipper front and single breast pocket on it. It frequently has stencilling on the back as to the work position or division the jacket was for.
"Gob" was a popular name for a sailor from around 1890 to 1955. Lucille Ball even made a movie titled "A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob." Therefore, a "Gob hat" is any hat worn by a U.S. Navy sailor, whether the Flat Hat (officially the "Blue Cap") or the White Hat in any of their forms. White is highly reflective. During World War II, white hats for working use were dyed a dark color to reduce the ship's visibility during night. The "dye" usually consisted of coffee grounds or india ink or whatever else was at hand. The dark coloration had nothing to do with duty stations. When at sea, a white hat reflecting moon light, could be seen at a great distance. The statment that the White Hat should have a square appearance is incorrect. World War II era U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations do not state how the White Hat is to be worn. It can be inferred, however, from the photographic examples shown, that it should have a circular appearance. That said, there have been as many ways to wear the White Hat as there have been sailors to wear it. Wearing the White Hat is highly individualistic and in a way defines the wearer's personality. There was a third hat issued to sailor's (and chiefs and officers) at this time. It was a blue knit watchcap. Robert USN thirty years
I saw a red gob hat in a movie and at reenactment is this something that was issued or a modifacation
