BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individuals rank. On its inception on February 26TH 1935, the Luftwaffe adopted most of the uniform items of the earlier DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), its clandestine, civilian forerunner, including the visor cap. In March 1935 the earlier, "Tellerform", saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a "Sattelform" 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 national tri-color cockade. The visor 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 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 bright red being chosen for personnel serving with the Flugzeugabwehrartillerie, (Anti-Aircraft Artillery), which was displayed as piping on EM/NCO’s visor caps.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, issued type, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and bright red wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. Original, 2nd pattern, Luftwaffe insignia is complete. Note the cockade is not properly attached to the cap. Both prongs are present and they will need to be pushed through the centerband. At the moment its just loosely sitting there, no doubt a replacement. The cap has a black, patent leather chinstrap with two, black painted, vertically rectangular, metal, retaining clips and two, black painted, vertically oval, metal, sliding length adjustment buckles. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, smooth, black painted sheet metal buttons. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, leather visor with a machine stitched, simulated leather lip to the forward edge. Complete liner and sweatband. Sweatband has tears and damaged sections but is mostly all there. Nice unit markings. Sweat shield is complete. Roughly a size 55/56.