My Hat

USAF "Aussie" hat history. This is my original hat, bought at the Korat BX in late June, 1966. The way I remember it, these hats were not endorsed by all the top AF brass, but were allowed in Thailand for sure, I do not know about USAF in Vietnam proper. I am foggy on if only pilots and flightline personnel were the only ones allowed to wear the hats. Not everyone bought this style of hat while I was there from June 5, 1966 to June 5 1967. I was one of the very few who even wore a squadron patch other than the pilots and most crew chiefs--on clothing. I was very rare in sewing my 13 TFS patch on the front of my hat. This original hat served me well and has never been washed of the sweat from hot summer Korat days (and warm nights, too) loading those Wild Weasel F-105s 12/6. I carried a small "Bowie-style" knife in the folded-up brim on one side as we we not allowed any other protection on our person in case the base got stormed. Thankfully, it never did. Dirty and dusty, it brings back proud memories of a time in my life that I would not trade for anything on earth. It is in my Will to go with me in the end. I had a Royal Thai Air Force metal lion head with sword-in-mouth I bought on base on one flap. It is not on this hat for the photo as it is with my good friend and neighbor, a 46 year-old Sea Bee who is in Iraq from Sept 2004 to ?? I told him I was 13th AF, 13 TFS and this Thai lion saw me safe on my tour--and I promised it would do the same for him in Iraq. The inside of this version of this hat is Sage Green.