BACKGROUND: The "Schiffchenform", (Boat form), style overseas cap was originally developed by the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportverband, (German Air Sports League), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, in 1933, and was adopted by the Luftwaffe shortly after its official establishment on February 26TH 1935. 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. The overseas caps for Company and Field grade Officer's holding the ranks of Leutnant up to Oberst were distinguished from EM/NCO's caps by bright silver/aluminum piping while Officers holding Generals ranks of Generalmajor up to Reichsmarschall utilized gold colored fittings and EM/NCO's caps were generally not piped. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own headgear and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO's could choose to purchase their headgear from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase headgear 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: Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides. The front center of the cap has a machine embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted, swastika in one talon, in pale silvery/grey cotton threads mounted on a cut-out, blue/grey, wool base and the front center of the fold down panels has a machine embroidered, national tri-color cockade in black, white and red rayon threads. Both the eagle and the cockade are handstitched in place (Eagle is restored and the cockade looks to be original stitching). The interior of the cap is fully lined in blue/grey rayon. There are no longer any visible markings, they are most probably there but now obscured by age or wear. Cap is roughly a size 57/58. Nice worn and used example showing the expected age and wear.