Help - Need information on WWII era US Army Lt. visor cap differences

Greetings:

Can somone please inform me why my grandfather 's Army visor caps have two different types of band behind the Commissioned officer's shield?

One hat has a "on the diagonal" green basket weave pattern and is a wool felt cap and the other has a horizontal green banding pattern and the cap is woven wool cloth.

(Naturally both are made by differnt manufacturers).

Is there any signifigance to the diference in the band material? or is it just a makers variation?

Thanks for any assistance... minor note of interest... my grandfather was a commissioned officer in the US Army before the war and was later an officer in the US Navy - two different commissions and service arms. The Army was a result of him being in the ROTC during Highschool. The Navy was due to the potential ontset of WWII. I presume he resignd the first to accept the latter - I never asked. He reached the rank of Lt. Commander in the US Navy and was part of the Secretary of the Navy's command structure - serving in Nashville TN as a Public Information Officer. He was a trained newspaper writer before the war - mostly sports coverage.

Yes, I know the shield is actually above the band... I was just trying to Id the particular band component by general location.

Thanks for any help!

Best regards.

W. Gery Hackney
WallyG.

I know there were regs stating the hat was to be made of "Wool or twill"...

Here's a site that might help... Caps, Service, Wool, Serge, Olive-Drab (Specifications QMC 8-5D Caps, Service, Wool, Serge, Olive-Drab, Aviation Cadet (Specification QMC 8-5E Dated 12 December 1934).

Jim:

Thanks for the link to the site...

The two hats I have seem to appear in the site's listing but there is not much to explain the differences in the 4 specifications listed that seem to apply. There is an image on the page that is a match to my hat with the baket weave band - and the picture appears to indicate a body made of wool felt - just like mine. The picture is labeled "Officer's Olive Drab Service Cap, Spec. PQD 36B" I'm still hunting for info on the other one made of woven wool fabric with the horizontally ribbbed banding. I am guessing that the different specifications might come into play and therefore just be versions of the design that evolved over time.

The site lists...

Cap, Service, Wool, Elastique, Olive-Drab Dark, Officer's
Specification PQD 36
Specification PQD 36A
Specification PQD 36B
Cap, Service, Fur, Felt, Officer's
Specification PQD 36C

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WallyG.

horizontally ribbbed banding

---

Would that be the "Twill" hat? They also state, "The same as the overcoat" somewhere in there.

Jim:

That would be my guess.. it is the same type wool fabric weave that I have seen in WWII green Navy Aviator uniform jackets. From the few moth holes it is definitely wool based.

Cheers!

Gery Hackney

My father also has onne but have not been curious enough to ask.