Outstanding Very Early Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Airforce) Flight (Paratrooper and Flyer) EM/NCO’S VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze) Brought Home By A U.S. Soldier Certified

SOLD

Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Airforce) FLIGHT (Paratrooper and Aircrew)  EM/NCO’S VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze) Brought Home By A U.S. Soldier Certified. Visor caps were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period, (Circa 1933-1945), 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, (Air-{Weapon}, Force), adopted most of the uniform items of the earlier DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian forerunner of the Luftwaffe, including the visor cap. In March 1935 the earlier, “Tellerform”, saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a “Sattelform” saddle shaped, 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 the national tri-color cockade. The original, first pattern, Luftwaffe style, national eagle was utilized until a slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. 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. Nice quality, private purchase Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/tricot 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. Nice quality, 2nd pattern, Luftwaffe insignia to the front of the cap. The cap has a black, patent leather chinstrap with two, black painted magnetic sheet metal, sliding length adjustment buckles. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, smooth, black painted, magnetic sheet metal buttons.  The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, leather visor with a machine stitched, simulated leather lip to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in orange oilcloth. The crown lining has a maker mark and size stamp 57.  The interior of the cap also has a wide, tan ersatz sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section, intact. Excellent condition size stamp 57 but it seems much larger, Dated 1936, Nice cap EARLY !  Excellent example. Nice untouched cap. Nice example showing the expected minor age and wear overall good  condition some mothing (see photos) . Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic brought home by a U.S. Veteran. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site. Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. Great artifact! don’t miss it! GOOD CONDITION Some mothing.