WW2 Raf other rank's peaked cap

[f4phantomkmk]

I know other ranks(sergent pilot, Warrant officet) wear side cap(forage cap) during ww2.
Did they wear peaked cap during war?

[David191]

I believe the wearing of peaked caps by RAF personnel below the rank of Warrant Officer was phased out in about 1940, or just prior? They were worn through the 30s & the only 'WW2' examples I have seen are dated approximately 1938 & 1939. All correct examples I have seen are dated on the liners too. These peaked caps for ranks below Warrant Officer seem to have made a reappearance in the 1950s again & those caps are quite often passed off as the real thing to unsuspecting buyers (i think they generally have plastic chin straps for a start & the peak shape is all wrong).

Best regards,
David

[f4phantomkmk]

Than, Most of Raf Sergent Pilots wear side caps.
Maybe personally purchased version?

[David191]

Yes, I think all RAF sergeants would have worn side caps. There was no private purchase of peaked caps for the other ranks in the RAF during WW2 as far as I am aware. It was, I believe, against regulations for them to continue wearing them, private purchase or not. Sure, if an individual could afford the tailor's bill, then he could have whatever made but he still would not be allowed to wear the peaked cap as the RAF were very much all about rules & regulations. Other air forces, not so much. One exception to the rule may have been RAF drivers but I may be getting this confused with RAAF drivers.

Best regards,
David

[David191]

I found this online today while searching for something else.
This was written by a bloke who is now banned from every militaria site worldwide for reasons not worth going into here, but he did know his stuff when it came to the RAF.

"The peaked cap was abolished for the RAF a few months into the war (I don't have an exact date). As such, unlike some items of clothing or equipment which are used until stocks are exhausted, caps were withdrawn for all NCOs and Other Ranks, the side cap becoming the only form of headwear. A few services/groups continued to wear the cap, such as Police, Apprentices and drivers, but generally that was it.

Stocks were obviously retained in store however, as these and the obsolete high collar tunic were issued to Poles in particular when they began to arrive in large numbers at the start of the war. The peaked cap was reintroduced about 1946 (certainly by 1947), probably using what remained of existing stock before new production commenced.

The differences between pre-war caps and post war caps are easily seen, the former has a small crown, higher front and sides and a smaller 'C' shaped peak (the cap badge is usually mounted higher too, almost above the mohair band), while post war caps have a larger crown, are not so high at the front or sides, and the peak is a broader 'D' shape.

There is a lot of conjecture over date codes, and of course depending on the item its easy to pick right from wrong. Pre-war caps have in the main, a date stamp to the leather sweatband (I have two, both 1939 dated) whereas postwar caps usually have a stores ref number or contract number. This is fairly common to have wartime and pre-war items of headdress dated, and post war with a reference number. Saying that, I have had one pre-war cap which had a private contractors name. Personally Ive never seen a pre war one with a ref number, or a post war one with a clear date.

Here is a photo of my two caps, which I recently took for another thread somewhere else. One has a reflective cover the other a white one. Although you cant see the caps too well, it does demonstrate the small size of the peak".

Best regards,
David