Original U.S. WWII USAAF Officer’s Visor Cap by Superior Uniform Cap Co. of Chicago - Size 7
In stock
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a well-used original U.S. WWII Army Air Forces officer’s service visor cap manufactured by the Superior Uniform Cap Co. of Chicago, complete with its original maker marking in the crown and E-Z CUSHION marked sweatband. The cap is constructed in the regulation olive drab service color and shows honest fading, handling wear, and long-term storage wear throughout. It also retains an unusual removable internal stiffener that appears to have been custom made and secured with two staples, allowing the cap to be worn either in a more regulation shape or with the softer profile associated with wartime “crusher” caps.
This is a great example of an AAF officer’s visor, identifiable by the wrap-around chinstrap that covers the entire circumference of the cap.
This is the classic "bomber pilot" headgear, worn by USAAF pilots in Europe and the Pacific. Actually, this was the standard Army/AAF officer dress cap, worn by pilots and non-pilots alike, but pilots gave this cap their own unique twist. Normally, this cap had stiffeners -- a support piece behind the cap device and a wire around the inside top perimeter to maintain the cap's round shape. These kept the cap in its proper, regulation military shape and angle. However, since bomber pilots wore headsets over their caps during flights, they would remove the wire stiffener to make headset wear more comfortable, causing the sides of the caps to become crushed. Eventually, the caps retained their floppy "crushed" look, giving the pilot who wore it the look of a seasoned veteran.
The cap is a very representative example of the officer’s service headgear that became so closely associated with the wartime Army Air Forces. Its Superior Uniform Cap Co. Chicago maker marking, size 7 designation, E-Z CUSHION sweatband, wraparound-style chinstrap, worn olive drab exterior, and unusual removable custom stiffener make it especially interesting for a collection focused on USAAF uniforms, private-purchase officer equipment, or the development of the classic WWII “crusher” cap.
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