Item Description
Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the winter crush visor cap & R-14 headset of Captain Anthony Michael Tuberose, 335th Bombardment Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group, whose B-17G (#42-37971) was shot down by fighters and crashed near Recke-Langenakker on a mission to Brunswick on 10 February 1944. The crew that survived the attack bailed out before the a/c broke up in the air. Tuberose & others were taken as Prisoners of War. He was interned at Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany, not being returned to the Military until July 9th, 1945.
The cap is inscribed under the visor CAPT. TUBEROSE. 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.
The outward appearance is worn from honest use, and decades of storage wear, with heavy verdigris on the interior. It retains the original iconic "crush" shape. The sweatband is embossed in gold “BANCROFT FLIGHTER". In addition, the Bancroft label is visible underneath the now stiffened weatherproof lining in the crown.
The R-14 headset is in fair service-worn condition, with the original wire still intact.
We actually found a period photo online of Tuberose with his crew, and in the photo he can be seen wearing a winter officer’s crush visor cap exactly like this one, leading us to believe that this is that exact cap. The cap does not have a size stamp, but is roughly Size 7.
The crusher cap identified its wearer as an experienced pilot, and was as much a part of his identity as his leather flight jacket. The crusher cap look quickly became popular with ground army officers and general officers as well.
A wonderful identified group to a Prisoner of War, ready for further research and display.
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