Forage Caps
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,399
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
I"MHO, the most useful piece of headgear for aircrew. SD Caps get 'Trashed' in FJ cockpits. Leading to the 'Combat' caps, which used to upset the 'B' word! (Mind you, that makes it worthwhile, on it's own!)"
Which is why it was reintroduced in the early '70s.
MInd you, if I'd known that The Scottish Officer didn't like them, I might have bought one on the off chance I might bump into the d*ckhead.
Which is why it was reintroduced in the early '70s.
MInd you, if I'd known that The Scottish Officer didn't like them, I might have bought one on the off chance I might bump into the d*ckhead.
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Classic RAF Headgear
The RAF single handedly defeated Nazi Germany thanks to the 'chip bag' forage cap, the Spitfire, the Lancaster and several million gallons of Brylcreem. Then they made us wear those stupid surrender monkey contrivances on our heads and its been all downhill ever since.
...and what's with all these khaki grow bags eh? Light blue overalls were good enough for Biggles and Douggie and good old Ginger.
Can you imagine the Navy without bell bottoms and flat hats, eh? Answer me that.
...and what's with all these khaki grow bags eh? Light blue overalls were good enough for Biggles and Douggie and good old Ginger.
Can you imagine the Navy without bell bottoms and flat hats, eh? Answer me that.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 210
From: Location: Location!
Are we down to arguing over sodding headgear now?
Certainly seems like it and, to add fuel to the fire, surely the headgear to which Green Hat/Yellow Hat originally referred is properly known as a side hat. A forage cap is actually one of those jaunty little jobs that Gurkhas and some members of the Rifles wear!
Jack
PS Re Blacksheep's "Can you imagine the Navy without bell bottoms and flat hats, eh? Answer me that." Answer: whatever turns you on .....
Jack
PS Re Blacksheep's "Can you imagine the Navy without bell bottoms and flat hats, eh? Answer me that." Answer: whatever turns you on .....
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Answer: whatever turns you on .....
Still with the rum and baccy long gone, what else is left?
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Over the rainbow
A forage cap is actually one of those jaunty little jobs that Gurkhas and some members of the Rifles wear!
I always thought that the Gurkhas wore a 'Pillbox' hat. I believe the forage cap is the 'chipbag' style of hat like my father wore up to the early 1950s when he gave it to me to play with.
'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar'.
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Under a stone
What is a Forage Cap
Google has the answer as to what a forage cap actually is, and this web site has the history of said hat in all its glory. We are all right - the forage hat/cap has lots of different styles. Enjoy the read.
http://www.warof1812.ca/foragecaps.htm
Also see AP 1358 Chapter 6 on Flying Kit and permitted headgear.
http://www.warof1812.ca/foragecaps.htm
Also see AP 1358 Chapter 6 on Flying Kit and permitted headgear.
Last edited by Release-Authorised; 14th June 2007 at 08:54. Reason: Just updating with more info...
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Under a stone
Zoom,
It depends where you get it from. My old stained "emergency in my bag" one is a converted airmans' hat with no lining and an officers badge. My "smart" comfy hat is a tailor's special manufactured from left overs and a badge made from a WSOp albatross and a FS crown. It has just a thin plain lining, and was MUCH cheaper than the standard "Moss Bros" buy. You can have a choice of coloured linings if you so wish!
As the artical in my post above states - they are made for comfort from spare scraps of cloth!
It depends where you get it from. My old stained "emergency in my bag" one is a converted airmans' hat with no lining and an officers badge. My "smart" comfy hat is a tailor's special manufactured from left overs and a badge made from a WSOp albatross and a FS crown. It has just a thin plain lining, and was MUCH cheaper than the standard "Moss Bros" buy. You can have a choice of coloured linings if you so wish!
As the artical in my post above states - they are made for comfort from spare scraps of cloth!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 365
Likes: 98
From: Norfolk
Acoording to AP1358:The forage cap is worn tilted to the right so that the front edge is approx 25mm above the eyebrows and the side edge is approx 12mm above the right ear. The forage cap is never worn with CS95
So there you have it!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Hook, Hants
Oh the long winter months must just fly by......................
The forage cap certainly looks the part (worn at suitably jaunty angle) if one is auditioning for an authentic WWII military sitcom - as for the rest of the time - leave it well alone
The forage cap certainly looks the part (worn at suitably jaunty angle) if one is auditioning for an authentic WWII military sitcom - as for the rest of the time - leave it well alone
