Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Commander Harold Raymond Gordinier (November 23, 1921 - April 28, 2012) served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and later during Korea as a helicopter pilot. During WWII he flew dive bombers from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), and received a Purple Heart during a May 1945 Kamikaze attack on the carrier.
This is an original ZEPHYR model U.S. Captain / Commander (or higher rank) visor cap in naval blue. It was made by BANCROFT Military Caps of Framingham, Mass., who was known for the very finest quality hats. It features wicker frame construction with wool topped leather visor with bullion oak leaf embroidery (scrambled eggs) and a silver American eagle cap badge with a gold bullion chinstrap.
The sweatband is embossed with BANCROFT'S / ZEPHYR in gold, and the crown bears the BANCROFT label. In the plastic pocket below the label is a cut down business card naming this cap to HAROLD RAYMOND GORDINIER / COMMANDER / UNITED STATES NAVY. The leather sweatband is in very good supple condition.
The cap is in excellent condition with no staining, no damage nor holes anywhere. A wonderful named cap from an officer who served in the Pacific during WWII. Ready to display.
Military Service of Commander Harold Raymond Gordinier:
Harold (Ham) Gordinier joined the Navy as an aviation cadet in May 1942 and received his wings and commission in October 1943. He flew dive-bombers from the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17), during operations on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. As part of squadron VB-84, Gordinier attacked aircraft and engine plants on the Japanese Home Islands and took part in the bombing of the Japanese aircraft carrier Unryu. He earned a purple heart when The USS Bunker Hill was struck by Kamikaze aircraft in May 1945. He returned to service and participated in the operation that sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Yamato. In the Korean War, Gordinier flew rescue helicopters from the USS Valley Forge (CV 45), and British carriers HMS Theseus, and HMS Glory. He earned three distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals, and his squadron earned two Presidential Unit Citations. Later in his military career, he flew jet aircraft in conjunction with the development of the guided missile program.
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