USAAF Officers peaked cap

**paulscoot** · 03-01-2017, 09:59 PM

Hi Folks, I picked up this USAAF Officers peaked cap recently (quite cheaply as it happens

) its by Bancroft & its a Flighter ,I assume its a summer or Tropical type hence the colour (Not sure if it would have been worn in the ETO) and that it is a crusher because it does ! The US Eagle on the front is a screw on by GEMSCO (acid tested some thing to do with gold plate I believe) although I do not doubt its authenticity I find it strange that it has an outer cover the same colour as the material beneath ,Any thoughts good or bad greatfully received ,regards, Paul

**douglas2496** · 03-01-2017, 10:52 PM

I think it's a great cap.

**AZPhil** · 03-01-2017, 11:01 PM

A beautiful Crusher!!!A Great pick up.

Semper Fi
Phil

**MAP** · 03-01-2017, 11:51 PM

Wow. A beauty for sure!

A bit of background on the maker (I copied and pasted from the www)

The Bancroft Caps company was established around 1900 in Massachusetts. They made caps for various divisions of the military, as well as for civilian uniforms like milk delivery services.

They began using a single layer of leather for the visor of their air force caps, known as Flighters, due to economising during wartime in WWII. This gave these caps a distinctive fold and curve. This look became heavily associated with pilots.

Naval caps were white with black patent leather, and an emblem affixed to the front.

Bancroft starting producing ‘Pac-Cap’ officers’ visors in the 1950s, with a collapsible crown that allowed them to be packed into luggage and not crushed, as a neat and tidy appearance was considered very important.

Collectors of military uniforms sometimes specialise in one area, such as caps. Bancroft were one of the great companies that made these for the U.S. armed forces, and are therefore very collectible.

Bancrofts should state the maker’s mark of Bancroft Caps. Often, they will also state U. S. Army Approved Cert no. Etc.

You can identify whether a Bancroft Flighter cap is wartime or post WWII, as the leafing or heat stamp on the sweatshield will read ‘pat.pend’ for wartime hats, while post-war had the patent number printed.

Bancroft caps and more valuable when they retain an original badge, such as the emblems affixed to the front of the navel caps. These have, however, sometimes been removed or even replaced by previous owners.

These caps are more valuable if they retain an original Bancroft box, however, this is extremely rare.

They sometimes contain a card stating who they belonged to and their address. These are a nice historical addition to a cap, and can increase interest and value if it proves the cap belonged to a notable military figure.

**Walkwolf** · 03-02-2017, 02:30 AM

Nice cap - congrats !

The cover being of the same colour might be for keeping
the cap looking clean and fresh by removing it for
laundering. Looks like the owner may have
perspired quite a bit.........

**paulscoot** · 03-02-2017, 06:22 PM

Thanks guys for the thumbs up

very interesting article on Bancroft (thanks Map) especially the dating of the wartime period caps by way of the pat pending marking , I take it then that the caps in this colour were for those based in the Mediterranean or the far east ?

thanks again guys for your help, Regards ,Paul

**douglas2496** · 03-02-2017, 06:27 PM

My understanding is that the officers tan colour uniform was an optional private purchase summer uniform and was worn during the summer months in the USA. It was also worn very widely in the far East and the Mediterranean. It was not worn at all in Britain or other colder countries, even in the summer months. Thats just from memory so I'm happy to be corrected.

**BobS** · 03-03-2017, 02:13 AM

My father was based in Metfield, Suffolk during the war, and he only wore the OD uniform, never Khaki.

BobS

**AZPhil** · 03-03-2017, 02:20 AM

I'll have to dig out some pic's but they did wear the tan (summer)visor in the UK. I got a pic of my Uncle and his B17 crew right after a mission and the pilot is sporting a tan garrison cover. I totally agree that the most were wore in the Med or PTO but I would not limit its use in those area's only

Semper Fi
Phil

**AZPhil** · 03-03-2017, 02:30 AM

This pic is March of 1944. I was given this pic by the Gent in the middle on the bottom row. Phil was the left waist gunner. To his right is my Uncle Joe. The tailgunner. The guy wearing the tan cover with the killer moustache is Lt Fioretti. The Pilot

.
I know this is not a summer crusher but I'll dig those out.

Semper Fi
Phil