RAF No 1 Dress Hat for Royalty

[stickstirrer]

Seeing the future king sporting a doctored downturned No1 parade hat on major state occasions made me wonder whether this is now ok for the rest of us? Several years ago to have appeared with one like that on parade would have merited a dressing down and polite demand to fork out for a new, pristine version: ‘fit for a king’…….
Am I out of line? Thoughts?……

[langleybaston]

Seeing the future king sporting a doctored downturned No1 parade hat on major state occasions made me wonder whether this is now ok for the rest of us? Several years ago to have appeared with one like that on parade would have merited a dressing down and polite demand to fork out for a new, pristine version: ‘fit for a king’…….
Am I out of line? Thoughts?……

Its an improvement on when he was said to have visited RAF Laarbruch.

The Queen was heard to say "Laarbruch? Wear the Fox Hat"

Thus saith the received wisdom.

[ShyTorque]

I arrived on a new station to begin my QFI tour after ten years or so on support helicopters and was almost immediately summoned to introduce myself to the Station Commander. I duly marched myself over and was called into his office, wearing my trusty, but rather battered SD hat, as was the custom. That SD hat had been on many a Cold War field exercise and had lived in many a dusty barn and muddy tent during that time. I came to attention, saluted and was given a short welcome chat. As I was dismissed, he told me that next time I came to see him, I was to wear my best hat. Unfortunately, it was my best hat and I said so. I was advised that next time, it was not to be my best hat. Point taken.

[oxenos]

A hat with "junglies" was required for shooting competitions, andI had a rather ancient and battered hat which I wore.
At one competition, the wife of the senior officer present, who was presenting the prizes, said "I do like your hat. Was it your father's?"

[FantomZorbin]

FZjr was wearing a 'chip hat' when OC Admin Wg asked him "where did you get THAT hat?" "It was my father's" he replied "Oh that's alright then" and the world just carried on

[charliegolf]

As I was dismissed, he told me that next time I came to see him, I was to wear my best hat. Unfortunately, it was my best hat and I said so. I was advised that next time, it was not to be my best hat. Point taken.

Rookie error. Shoulda just said, "Yessir!". Would have avoided his direct ish order. Might have bought another tour for the old trusty hat. Need to think like a SNCO Shy!

CG

[MPN11]

The Tale of a Hat.
Messrs Alkit, 1965 model. On graduating from Feltwell it proceeded to Shawbury, where a short period of holding was required before the ATC Course started. Accordingly, it was volunteered to assist with ongoing Cadet camps. During this process, it fell into a stream and got soaked.
First tour. Sunny Lincolnshire. Worn daily, as was No. 1 HD which barely survived the tour.
Second tour. Sunny Tengah, Singapore. By this stage it was definitely looking the worse for wear, and was fading noticeably.
Third tour. Sunny Norfolk. A remote Area Radar unit, where things like smart hats didn't really feature.
Fourth tour. Middlesex, at a famous Air traffic Control Centre. The owner got dinged as O i/c Guard of Honour for AOC's Inspection, and a new hat was essential.
Later life ... as with oxenos [above] The Hat started a new life from 1974 on Bisley Ranges as "Competition Hat". It struggled on in that role until 1993, despite a few invitations from VSOs to get rid.
The Hat is now pensioned off and enjoying well-earned retirement in the attic after 30 years loyal service.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1527/the_hat_77e0ef7d413c938a71d1454c169bb30c3046ea1c.jpg

[brakedwell]

I remember the return of the forage cap in the early seventies. It seemed to be very good for use on our long haul routes, so I purchased one, although I was one of the very few users on the Squadron. Then our very unpopular boss decreed he wanted all his officers to wear the said hats, so I retired mine and wore my battered SD hat again.!

[ShyTorque]

Rookie error. Shoulda just said, "Yessir!". Would have avoided his direct ish order. Might have bought another tour for the old trusty hat. Need to think like a SNCO Shy!

CG

I didn’t even get to finish that tour….something to do with alleged weapons of mass destruction cropped up.

[ShyTorque]

The Tale of a Hat.
Messrs Alkit, 1965 model. On graduating from Feltwell it proceeded to Shawbury, where a short period of holding was required before the ATC Course started. Accordingly, it was volunteered to assist with ongoing Cadet camps. During this process, it fell into a stream and got soaked.
First tour. Sunny Lincolnshire. Worn daily, as was No. 1 HD which barely survived the tour.
Second tour. Sunny Tengah, Singapore. By this stage it was definitely looking the worse for wear, and was fading noticeably.
Third tour. Sunny Norfolk. A remote Area Radar unit, where things like smart hats didn't really feature.
Fourth tour. Middlesex, at a famous Air traffic Control Centre. The owner got dinged as O i/c Guard of Honour for AOC's Inspection, and a new hat was essential.
Later life ... as with oxenos [above] The Hat started a new life from 1974 on Bisley Ranges as "Competition Hat". It struggled on in that role until 1993, despite a few invitations from VSOs to get rid.
The Hat is now pensioned off and enjoying well-earned retirement in the attic after 30 years loyal service.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1527/the_hat_77e0ef7d413c938a71d1454c169bb30c3046ea1c.jpg

Hardly broken in! 🤣

[Big Pistons Forever]

I was a midshipman during the unfortunate days when everyone in the Canadian Armed Forces had to wear the hated green uniform, This included the issue green high fronted peaked cap. I decided to “improve” it by rolling the sides down and securing them with a few loops of fishing line to give it an appealing 50 mission vibe.

I got away with it for about a day until the Base CPO saw me. The good news; he added to the depth and breadth of this 17 year old’s vocabulary. The bad news…..well I never was very good at push ups…..

[Brakes to Park]

I arrived on a new station to begin my QFI tour after ten years or so on support helicopters and was almost immediately summoned to introduce myself to the Station Commander. I duly marched myself over and was called into his office, wearing my trusty, but rather battered SD hat, as was the custom. That SD hat had been on many a Cold War field exercise and had lived in many a dusty barn and muddy tent during that time. I came to attention, saluted and was given a short welcome chat. As I was dismissed, he told me that next time I came to see him, I was to wear my best hat. Unfortunately, it was my best hat and I said so. I was advised that next time, it was not to be my best hat. Point taken.

Was he Gp Capt Richard Head?

[Ninthace]

I thought all sensible folk had 2 SD hats. one for best and one for everyday. When my first one started to get to the point where it had lost its lustre I bought a new one which only ever came out on high days and holidays until the working hat got utterly disreputable. Then a new one was acquired and the the parade hat became the working hat. Since I wasn't a member of the Two Wing Master Race, and did a few tours on training units, I had to maintain a certain standard but even so, I did not get through that many, even in 25 years.

[bugged on the right]

As so many Commonwealth ex aircrew went to Hong Kong in the 90s, remember the Whittle hat? Kept in a special place in the change room for use for a special checker who had a thing.

[anxiao]

Yes indeed Bugged, many a flight with said gentleman and kept a spare new hat in my locker for years to fly with him. Saved a lot of aggravation.

As a slight thread drift, I also remembering moving the thrust levers a little too fast for the spool up and getting the comment, "My father would not have liked that..."

[radar101]

1980s at Cranwell - I'm almost certain SATCO wore a king's crown SD hat.

Through my 16 years my chip bag was my father's old one - a Warrant Officer one.

[Lima Juliet]

1980s at Cranwell - I'm almost certain SATCO wore a king's crown SD hat.

Through my 16 years my chip bag was my father's old one - a Warrant Officer one.

No such thing as a “King’s Crown” - there is a “Kings Crown” (no apostrophe) that refers to the 3 Kings of England (St Edmund, St Edward the Confessor and Henry VI) that used to appear on the correctly termed “Tudor Crown”. Oddly enough, no one actually knows exactly what the Tudor Crown looks like as Cromwell had it broken up after he executed Charles I. There are a few paintings with Monarchs wearing the Tudor Crown but in each one it looks a little different.

The Tudor Crown on cyphers, badges and buttons is a stylised version of what it might have looked like, but some Kings and Queens chose to use the St Edward’s Crown (named after St Edward the Confessor) instead - including the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - this crown does exist and has been used for the coronation of just 7 Monarchs. The first to use the St Edward’s Crown was Charles II after Cromwell was booted out. George IV used the St Edward’s Crown in His cypher - that also featured on Royal Navy buttons of the time too.

So just like referring to flying badges incorrectly as “brevets” (which is in fact the certificate or licence that you receive) then those that use “King’s Crown” or “Queen’s Crown” are equally in error. It’s a St Edward’s Crown, a Tudor Crown, where the latter could be termed “Kings Crown” if referring to the version with the 3 Kings on it - otherwise use the former :ok:

[Captain Dart]

Yes indeed Bugged, many a flight with said gentleman and kept a spare new hat in my locker for years to fly with him. Saved a lot of aggravation.

As a slight thread drift, I also remembering moving the thrust levers a little too fast for the spool up and getting the comment, "My father would not have liked that..."

He supposedly made that comment to an Aussie one day and the response was, ‘He worked for HAECO, did he?’

[ShyTorque]

Was he Gp Capt Richard Head?

No. He was still a flight lieutenant back then.

[teeteringhead]

No. He was still a flight lieutenant back then......and retired as a sqn ldr. That may have been banter Shy.

[pr00ne]

Why do the military still wear hats in 2023? Seems a bit silly and outdated to me.

[Krystal n chips]

I always thought the colloquial term that rhymes with hat was the most definitive for this bit of uniform.

Once the RAF finally got rid of its 1930 style / Fred Scuttle hats for the peasants, and issued nice soft ones, these easily found their way to the bottom of a locker where they squashed, or compressed if you prefer, very easily and thus allowed more space for useful items.

[langleybaston]

.....and retired as a sqn ldr. That may have been banter Shy.

That would be the one whose cousin was Mike Hunt?

[ShyTorque]

That would be the one whose cousin was Mike Hunt?

There was a pilot named Richard Head. There was also a Warrant Officer loadmaster named Michael Hunt; I flew with the latter when we were on the Puma OCU staff.

The Wg Cdr boss of the OCU had a very attractive secretary; she was a very glamorous granny and I think most of the male staff had a bit of a crush on her. One day she knocked on our staff office door, popped her head around it and asked, I’m sure in all innocence: “Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?”

My colleague and I, both busy at our desks writing up student reports sighed, smiled and just wished. I think she suddenly realised what she’d said. Her head disappeared back round the door and we heard a stifled laugh, which could only have come from her. Happy days! ;)

[BEagle]

Rick Head was a Vulcan captain on 35 Sqn in the 1970s. Great chap - he later defected to the world of horrible clattering things though!

[charliegolf]

That would be the one whose cousin was Mike Hunt?

No, his cousin was Benjamin Dover.

CG

[ShyTorque]

I thought all sensible folk had 2 SD hats. one for best and one for everyday. When my first one started to get to the point where it had lost its lustre I bought a new one which only ever came out on high days and holidays until the working hat got utterly disreputable. Then a new one was acquired and the the parade hat became the working hat. Since I wasn't a member of the Two Wing Master Race, and did a few tours on training units, I had to maintain a certain standard but even so, I did not get through that many, even in 25 years.

It used to be my best hat. When I had two, I wore the previous old one to the Airmens’ Mess one Christmas, when some of us volunteered to serve them a Christmas Dinner, dressed in our No 1 uniforms. My SD hat was stolen. At least it wasn’t left full of urine under the Christmas tree, like some other officers’ hats, by thoughtful, grateful airmen. Annoyingly, we had to purchase our own uniforms, airmen were issued with theirs for free. Last time I volunteered to do that.

[langleybaston]

No, his cousin was Benjamin Dover.

CG

Who married Betty Swallocks as I recall. Or was it Mary Hingepiece?

[MightyGem]

The Queen was heard to say "***********? Wear the Fox Hat"

Insert destination of choice. :)

[mopardave]

No, his cousin was Benjamin Dover.

CG
That's correct.......his brother in law was Mike Oxlong.

[ShyTorque]

Walter Wall-Belvoir was another good name badge.

[charliegolf]

Let's not forget Huw. (Welsh speelong.):E

CG

[langleybaston]

Let's not forget Huw. (Welsh speelong.):E

CG
Common name, Huw.

Mr Jampton's son was thus christened.

[Dunhovrin]

I can think of two Dovers who were nicknamed Ben. Only one answered to it though.