Original Item: Only One available. This is a very interesting and rare Luftwaffe Flight Branch EM/NCO Schirmmütze (Visor Cap), marked to an EXTREMELY short lived unit, Zerstörergeschwader 143, or "Destroyer Squadron 143". It only existed from January 1, 1939 to May 1, 1939 (4 months), and only had one group in it, having been made from elements of Jagdgeschwader 143. The group was then renamed to Zerstörergeschwader 52, and ceased to exist. The unit marking on this cap is under the sweatband, the correct location for Luftwaffe caps, and is in the correct for of I. / Z.G.143. Really a great visor cap with some fantastic research opportunities!

Even without the regimental attribution, this cap is a wonderful honest lightly used example with a fantastic "Crushed" or "saddle-form" shape that is highly desirable, accomplished by removing the crown support stiffener ring. This NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap is an original high quality manufactured cap. It is fabricated in Luftwaffe blue gray Fliegerblau (Flier's Blue) "whipcord" weave wool, with wide black wool cap band, plus three rows of goldgelb (Gold-Yellow) color piping for the flight branch (Waffenfarbe) around the circumference. This included Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops).

The is decorated with the correct insignia, including a finely-detailed aluminum eagle on the peak, and an aluminum oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and central painted tri-color cockade on the band. These are in excellent condition, showing little wear of any kind, and remain bright and shiny, with just a bit of wear to the paint. The dual-buckled black leather chinstrap, designating the wearer to be an enlisted man, is attached to black lacquered buttons on either side. It shows fine checking to the finish, very common on patent leather items of this age, and now makes it look more matte than gloss. The visor is the classic gloss black color with a faux leather stitched edge trim, made of pressed vulcanfibre with a checkered green underside. It shows crazing and checking on the visor, caused by age, as well as some "melting" of the finish, and the edge trim is missing some portions from wear. The visor is still well attached to the body of the cap.

The interior of the cap is lined with brown "service cloth" type material, which shows staining from use. The top celluloid sweat shield diamond is partly intact, with tears and some of the stitching missing, and there is a maker logo underneath, but it is too worn to read. The size 58 1/2 is however still clear. The sweatband light gray finished leather, and is in very good condition, showing wear commensurate with long service. As we often see, the rubber pad under the forehead perforations is completely missing.

Overall, the condition of the cap is very good, with the colors well retained and great eye appeal. We do not see any real moth damage, which is very prevalent on these caps made mostly from wool.. Please consult the pictures for further details. This is a very nice Luftwaffe Flight Branch EM/NCO peaked visor cap, offered in very good condition with a great look and fantastic research potential. Ready to display!

The German Schirmmütze Visor Cap:
The visor cap (Schirmmütze) was an important part of the headgear worn by German uniformed military, civil, paramilitary and political organizations during the Third Reich. This was the standard cloth headgear worn as a part of the service uniform. Visor caps were worn outdoors as well as indoors, and were often required to be worn by all personnel on duty. Visor caps were made in versions specific to each organization and were often further differentiated through the use of insignia, colored piping, or style of chin cord, to indicate rank, role or branch. The insignia used on these caps ranged from simple stamped metal emblems, to elaborate hand embroidery. Visor caps were issued to enlisted soldiers and NCOs in the military and in some other organizations. Officers had to purchase their own hats, and lower ranks could choose to purchase caps that were of a higher quality than the rather basic, issue examples. The private purchase caps were generally made in very high quality, with fine materials. A wide variety of fabrics were used, from Trikot and doeskin, to heavy wool, or even lightweight white fabric for summer wear. In the military, issue of these caps was generally suspended shortly after the outbreak of the war, but they continued to be worn by some troops until the end of the war.