Rear Admiral C.C. Smith's USN Conbimation Cover

Rear Admiral C.C. Smith's USN Combination Cover.
This is a U. S. Navy Combination Cover - naval parlance for a peaked cap or headgear. It is referred to as a combination cover because this form of hat may be used with a variety of "covers" in different colors and materials in combination with the uniform of the day; as prescribed by the station, base or vessel's commanding officer. In the WWII-era U.S. Navy, an officer could have had covers that were white, navy blue, khaki, or slate grey. This example bears the distinctive oak leaf embroidery, often called "scrambled eggs", on the visor of the cap which indicates a flag officer.
As a submarine skipper, then Lt. Commander C.C. Smith would have used a white combination cover, (although without the "scrambled eggs"), as it is the prerogative of submarine captains in many of the world's navies to difference themselves from the other officers by distinctive headgear.

Admiral Smith (1905-1976), was a 1925 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a submariner, who was the skipper of the USS Swordfish (SS-193), attached to Submarine Division 22 of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, headquartered in the Philippine Islands at the beginning of WWII. As the commanding officer of the Swordfish then Lt. Commander Smith put to sea on his first war patrol on 8 December 1941, commencing a distinguished record of service in WWII.

Smith's boat sank their first enemy ship on 14 December 1941 and damaged another on that same day; his next victory was on December 16th and he concluded his first war patrol by transporting the command staff for submarines in the Asiatic Fleet from Manila to Soerabaja, Java, in the Netherlands East Indies.

A sortie into the Celebes Sea and Philippine waters commenced the second war patrol of the Swordfish. Leaving Soerabaja on 16 January 1942, Smith's success continued and by 19 February 1942 the Swordfish, under his command and aggressive leadership was credited with 8 enemy vessels sunk.

Next he evacuated the President of the Philippines Manuel Luis Quezón and his family from the fortress island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands. After safely transferring the Quezon party for eventual transportation to Australia, Smith returned to Manila Bay to evacuate Francis Sayre, the U.S. High Commissioner to the Philippines and personal representative of the U.S. President to the Philippines. Commander Smith and the Swordfish ended his 2nd war patrol at Fremantle in Australia on 9 March 1942. For, "… leadership, and the courageous, aggressive spirit of his command" Lt. Commander Smith war awarded the Navy Cross, the 2nd highest US Naval award for valor.

His third (1 April to 1 May 1942) and fourth (15 May to 4 July 1942) war patrols were equally successful, with another return to Manila Bay and additional sinkings of enemy vessels. For these patrols Lt. Cdr. Smith was awarded the Silver Star, the third highest award for valor. Aptly decorated, Chester Carl Smith became one of America's early "Submarine Aces" in the early, dark days of WWII when the nation sorely needed heroes.

He was eventually promoted to captain and commanded submarine division Sixty One, until 14 March 1944. For his successes in destroying in excess of 250,000 tons of enemy shipping, Captain Smith was awarded the Legion of Merit; an award created during WWII for, "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements."

He was next in command of Submarine Squadron Thirty and ended his career as Chief of Staff to the Commander of Submarines in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet

This cap was acquired with ZFC3857, Admiral Smith's Rear Admiral's personal flag.

In 1862 the United States Navy authorized the grade of Rear Admiral. Personal Flags, bearing the number of stars corresponding to their insignia were commissioned to indicate their presence on a flagship or shore installation from 1865.

Provenance:
• Admiral Chester C. Smith until passing, 1976.
• By descent in the Smith family.
• Acquired by purchase by The War Museum of New York City, 1990s
• Sold via Bonham's of New York City, NY to Zaricor Flag Collection, 2013.


ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:

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Valor awards for Chester Carl Smith, Military Times Hall of Valor, 25 February 32103, from: http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=20949

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS by USNA Class Year, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear.html

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS: Division Commanders, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subdivisioncommanders.html

SUBMARINE COMMANDERS: Squadron Commanders, WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE COMMANDERS, 13 April 2013, from: http://www.fleetorganization.com/subsquadcommanders.html

USS Swordfish (SS-193), Wikipedia, 13 April 2013, from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Swordfish_(SS-193)

Peaked cap (Combination Cover) Wikipedia, 13 April 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaked_cap

Uniform of the Day, Wikipedia, 13 April 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_of_the_day

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	10.25
Length of Fly	10

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Cotton
Comments on Fabric	Cotton cover, wool band, leather sweat band, metal insignia

Attachment
Method of Attachment	None

Applica
Applique Sides	3-D Artifact

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used, soiled, worn
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1945