SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
L017666 EM/NCO'S M43 FIELD CAP.
(Einheitsfliegermütze M43)BACKGROUND: Following the army’s lead the Luftwaffe introduced the M43 field cap on September 27TH 1943 to replace the Flyer's and Mountain caps then in use. The design of the M43 field cap was based on the earlier M42 Feldmütze, (Overseas cap), and the Mountain Troopers Bergmütze, (Mountain Cap), with minor variations. The insignia on the caps included the Luftwaffe style national eagle and the circular, black, white, and red national tri-color cockade as introduced on March 14TH 1933. The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally 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. The original, short winged, first pattern national eagle was utilized until a, slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations dictated that the national eagle was to be worn on almost all headgear and on the right breast of almost all uniforms with a few minor exceptions. Officer’s ranks were distinguished by piping on the crown of the cap with silver piping for the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt piping for General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Reichsmarschall while EM/NCO’s caps were not piped. Further regulations also dictated that the buttons on the cap were also to be an indicator of rank with blue/grey buttons for EM/NCO’s, silver for Field and Company grade officers and gilt for General’s ranks but this was not strictly adhered to. 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.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon, blend construction cap, with a subtly ribbed weave, features fold down side and back panels with a scalloped front with dual bakelite closure buttons positioned at the front center. Buttons look to be replaced/re-stitched. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearers ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearer’s chin. The front center of the cap has a second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), machine embroidered, Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, in silvery/grey rayon threads positioned above a national tri-color cockade in black, red and white rayon threads, on a Luftwaffe blue/grey trapezoidal wool base as introduced in May 1943. The insignia is machine stitched to the cap. The insignia has been cleaned at some point as the white portion of the cockade gives off a slight UV feedback. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal stiffener with a subtly raised lip to the top of the forward edge and a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in gold/tan rayon. Cap is dated for 1944, has a faint Rbnr# marking and is size marked 57.
GRADE **** PRICE $305.00
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