<P> Naval aviators typically flew patrol bombers from shore bases until the first United States aircraft carrier USS Langley was commissioned on 20 March 1922 . Differing uniforms afloat precipitated a 13 October 1922 Bureau of Navigation letter: "Uniforms for aviation will be the same as for other naval officers, doing away with the green and khaki, which may be worn until June 1, 1923, but only at air stations ." Khaki aviation uniforms of a somewhat different pattern were reinstated on 8 April 1925 . </P> <P> During World War II, a single - breasted heavy cotton twill jacket with shoulder boards was worn with cotton twill trousers over a long - sleeved cotton shirt with a black necktie as "Service Dress Khaki", allowing cleaning in shipboard laundry facilities . Later on, through the Vietnam War, the trousers and jacket were often made of light wool or wool - blend fabric as routine access to dry - cleaning facilities became available . The uniform was dropped in 1975 by then - Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, in order to reduce the number of items in the officer's seabag . A revived version of the uniform was announced in 2006 on a test basis . It was authorized for wear by commissioned officers and CPOs during the summer months and in tropical climates . Some commentators, including the periodical Navy Times, spoke of this uniform as having a "throwback" look . </P> <P> The uniform reintroduced a khaki service coat worn with a black necktie and shoulder boards . The prescribed headgear was a combination cap with khaki cover, or optionally a khaki garrison cap . It was intended to provide a more practical alternative to the Service Dress Whites and a more formal alternative to the Service Khakis . This uniform was frequently worn in public by then - CNO and subsequently Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen; on 1 May 2011, Mullen was seen wearing this uniform in the iconic photograph in the White House Situation Room during the Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden's compound . In October 2012, cost considerations led to the cancellation of the full - scale reintroduction of the uniform, and the uniform was dropped from the Navy . </P> <P> The rarely seen Service Dress Blue Yankee uniform replaced the dark trousers and black shoes of Service Dress Blue with white trousers and shoes from the white uniform . Prescribed for officers . </P>

What are the official colors of the navy