Original U.S. Vietnam War Era Baseball Caps of Brigadier General Richard B. Posey - Pennsylvania Air National Guard Chief of Staff Cap & Brigadier General Rigger Cap

Original Items. Only One Lot Available. This is a gorgeous set of Vietnam War era “Baseball” caps belonging to Brigadier General Richard B. Posey. Posey, who served as Deputy Adjutant General for Air (DAG-A) for 20 years, has ties to all three Pennsylvania wings, and is considered by many the Father of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. During the Vietnam War, the PA Air Guard flew 134 supply missions to Vietnam in 1966–1967, becoming the first reserve air force ever to enter a combat zone without actually being mobilized. We believe the blue cap to be theater-made.

The “Rigger” cap is all-red construction with a Parachute “Rigger” patch and a Brigadier General’s Star to the front. Under the sweatband is the inscription: 

R.B. POSEY
FORT BRAGG 1975

A great inscription which definitively identifies both caps to Posey. The second cap has the embroidered text to the front:

CHIEF OF STAFF
(STAR)
HQ PA ANG

With R.B. POSEY embroidered to the back. The front visor has storm clouds and lightning embroidered on. Neither cap has a size tag, but they are both roughly a Size 7, although the red cap does have an adjustment at the back, and the blue cap does have an elastic band at the back.

The caps came with a small note stating that they were made in S.E. Asia, and considering that the PA Air Guard flew 134 supply missions to Vietnam in 1966–1967, this is likely correct. A good opportunity for further research.

Brigadier General Richard B. Posey distinguished himself by making unique and exceptionally meritorious contributions to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard during a military career that spanned four decades. After flying22 B-17 combat missions in the European Theatre during World War ll, General Posey returned to Pennsylvania to begin an illustrious career in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He was selected to serve as the squadron commander of the newly authorized 148th Fighter Squadron, Spaatz Field, Reading and spearheaded an aggressive recruiting effort to bring the new unit to 25% strength, which was necessary to obtain federal recognition. In less than two months the required strength was achieved, the 148th received federal recognition and began training as a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

As one of the early leaders of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Posey was instrumental in developing training and administrative policies, operational concepts, and safety programs which became the cornerstone of Air National Guard operations within the State. He served as a key member of the National Guard Association Airlift Sub-committee which studied the military airlift capabilities and needs of the Reserve forces and was a key player in identifying the roles and missions which would be assigned to the Air National Guard, nationwide. He also served as the Senior Air Force Reserve member of a Total Force Study that encompassed the entire spectrum of defense planning for all services. His skilled expertise afforded the Study Group a most valuable source of information regarding Air Guard concepts, doctrine, and employment. These two national level assignments depict service which affected military decisions at the National Guard Bureau and Department of Defense level and contributed directly to the upgrading of mission readiness capabilities of the Air National Guard nationwide and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This is a tremendous set of caps, ready for further research and display!