Manufactured exclusively for the Military Aviation Museum. This custom-designed hat features our Goodyear FG-1D Corsair. It is an unstructured cap made of garment-washed cotton twill in the front and back, with a low, unstructured crown, a pre-curved bill, and a hook-and-loop closure, allowing you to adjust it to your exact size.
This hat pays tribute to VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” and Commander Shelton “Ray” Beacham, USN, a Norfolk, VA native and local hero who flew with the legendary Jolly Rogers squadron during WWII. Known as the “Kittyhawk Kid,” Beacham joined the U.S. Navy in 1939 and earned his wings in 1940. In 1943, he was assigned to VF-17, a pioneering fighter squadron in the Pacific Theater.
The iconic Skull and Crossbones that marked the squadron’s Corsairs is proudly displayed on the Museum’s own FG-1D and this exclusive Corsair hat. While deployed in the Pacific, Beacham earned two confirmed aerial victories, each commemorated with markings on the Museum’s aircraft.
VF-17 "Jolly Rogers" quickly became a standout unit within the Solomons Fighter Command. The squadron played a critical role in reshaping the early reputation of the Corsair, proving its effectiveness in combat and cementing its place in aviation history.
