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L000160 FLIGHT EM/NCO'S VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze)
BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with, based on the individual’s rank. On its inception on February 26TH 1935, the Luftwaffe adopted most of the uniform items of the earlier DLV, Deutscher Luftsportverband, (German Air Sports League), its clandestine, civilian forerunner, including the visor cap. In March 1935 the earlier, "Tellerform", saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a "Sattelform" cap with a higher front peak and an oval shaped top. The insignia utilized on the visor caps consisted of the Luftwaffe style national eagle as introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV on August 18TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1ST 1935 along with a new winged wreath and national tri-color cockade. The visor caps for Company and Field grade Officers holding the ranks of Leutnant up to Oberst were distinguished from EM/NCO’s caps by bright silver/aluminum piping and a silver/aluminum chin cord while Officers holding Generals ranks of Generalmajor up to Reichsmarschall utilized gold colored fittings. EM/NCO ranks visor caps utilized the appropriate waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), piping and blackened leather chinstraps. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps although the price may have been restrictive. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with golden yellow being chosen for Flieger, (Flight) personnel which was displayed as piping on EM/NCO’s visor caps.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, privately purchased, slightly mottled, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and golden yellow wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire, internal padding and a vertical stiffener to the interior front center are still intact and give the cap a nice shape with a high, central, forward peak and overlapping side panels. The front center of the cap has had the Luftwaffe style, national eagle removed. The front center of the centerband has a silver washed, stamped alloy, winged wreath with a black, silver and red painted national tri-color cockade. The winged wreath and cockade retain about 95% of their respective finishes and are still quite clean and bright. The winged wreath and cockade are secured to the cap by prongs on the reverse. The cap has a black, patent leather chinstrap with two, black painted, vertically rectangular, metal, retaining clips and two, black painted, vertically oval, metal, sliding length adjustment buckles. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, smooth, black painted sheet metal buttons. The chinstrap shows light surface scarring. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a machine stitched, simulated leather lip to the forward edge. The lacquered finish to the top of the visor also shows light surface scarring. The interior of the cap is fully lined with an orangish/tan cheesecloth lining to the body and an orangish/tan cotton/rayon blend lining to the crown. The crown lining has a the stitch out-line where a sweat rhomboid had been applied at one time. The lining is also well marked with a faint, mostly illegible black size inkstamp and the silver manufacturer’s name/logo. The interior of the cap also has a tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section. The sweatband shows light to moderate age and usage toning. The cap is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and some small spots of light nap wear. The cap is roughly size 56.
GRADE ***1/4 PRICE $835.00
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