Air America Caps/Helmets

The Basic Black Ball Cap

This is the basic, black cotton baseball cap. Points to look for:

• Cheap plastic-like liner or headband
• Plastic (different colors) buckle-strap on the back
• No maker's tag that we've seen
• Bullion patch on front
• Patch is usually stitched through the liner
• Six black metal grommets around top
• The beautiful bullion bamboo leaves on the brim

There is a  copy of this cap made for the movie Air America that you sometimes see.  It has the "American" snap-strap in the back.   I've also seen these in tailored caps with bullion and/or embroidered badge.  Be careful.

Did you know that this hat was also made without the bamboo leaves on the brim -- maybe for non-flying personnel?  Again, there is war-time footage of these being worn with and without bamboo on the brim.  If anyone can find me one I'd greatly appreciate it!

The Flight Helmet

Helmets were worn by rotary-wing pilots and crew as well as by a few of the fixed wing pilots. Helmets were standard government issue helmets. Original issue was white -- until it became apparent that these were great aiming points. Soon the dark green helmet become standard. There was apparently some leeway in decoration of the helmets. Some photos show "Air America" across the brim in silver or white on a dark blue helmet. One pilot remembers a flat black helmet with his name in small letters on the back and a shooting star in silver on each side. This was a STOL pilot who obtained the helmet from helicopter operations. The OD green helmet shown was issued to a pilot when leaving the country(!) after he turned in his old helmet.

Baseball Cap in Use	Baseball Cap in Use
Variation Baseball Cap	Variation Baseball Cap
Original Cap Brim	Reproduction Cap Brim
Variation Original Cap (Note Yellowed Shield)	Variation Original Cap (Note Yellowed Shield)
You can also view this cap on the CIA's website by clicking here
APH5 Late Issue Helmet	Late APH5 Issue Helmet
Mid-Issue Helmet -- Custom Paint	Early 5 Issue Helmet
Continue to Flight Crew Caps
Continue to Ground Crew Caps

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