Highlander
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What great fun. This thread far exceeded my expectations. Thanks for all of the information.
Stearmen said:Manfred von Richtofen is shown in several photos wearing what can be described as a crush hat! It seemed to be popular with the Prussian Cavalry, which he came from. As for proper uniform, it was reported he was wearing pajamas under his flight suit on his final mission.
If I'm not mistaken it was called a Schirmmütze, which translates to "peaked cap" or "visor cap."
Sorry about the off topic! I usually come back and reply after I have read all the different topics, I thought I was replying to the Red Baron movie in that section. I need to start replying as I read them.Smithy said:Hi Stearman,
Apologies to the original thread starter for going off topic on this. I'll leave it there!
Stearmen said:Back when I was flying air shows, i had lots of WWII vets come up to me and show me their Crush hats. After looking at a half dozen, all of which looked to be theater made, I decided to make my owen! I bought a OD Gaberdine cover just a little larger then my head, then I cut two brims out of 1/8th inch finished brown leather. I sowed these together, used some shoe polish on the edge, then sowed it to the front of the cover on the inside. At this point the brim is facing straight down, no problem we will fix this later! Then I sowed a thin leather band around the inside of the cover. Next I carefully worked the brim so that it had the correct bend that a standard cap would have. Then it was a simple mater of putting the chin strap on with the two buttons, and the eagle on the front and one 50 mission crusher! I got lodes of complements eve from ardent collectors wanting to know where I got it! Sadly I sold it and have not made another since. No photos either, pre digital age for me.
Dixon Cannon said:Bilko, I am envious!!! What a beautiful collector's treasure. That cap is a museum piece.
I hope when you pass on it ends up in the Smithsonian - it's that good! :eusa_clap
-dixon cannon
P.S. What other treasures do I see lurking just out of camera range????? Hmmmm???
MPicciotto said:It wasn't by chance from trips to the bar, with the cap rolled up and stuffed in a pocket was it? 50 weekend passes off base, would put you as having been in the war for some time...
Matt
Dudleydoright said:I bet you wouldn't be mocking an Air Force person currently serving in Kandahar and safe for dodging their duty would you ? They can't all be out there kicking in doors Nd if you'd ever seen some shooting yourself you'd soon realize you'd give pretty much anything to become REMF yourself.
I'm saddened it is thought funny to mock anyone who gave up a part of their youth to serve their country.
Lone Ranger said:Though, as a former infantryman, I don't share my comrades view of the USAF. I happen to think they are the one branch that gets it right. The enlisted prepare the 'steed' for battle. Then they send their officers off to fight, in the age old tradition of the knight
Dudleydoright said:Of course the guy might've been too old to serve active duty ...... Maybe there were other reasons. There have always been plenty of so-called REMFs who wanted to look cool. Quite natural really. Not everyones' grandfather could be a war hero but they also did their bit and should not be belittled for that. In the US Army the ratio was 10 support service personnel for every infantryman. If there's only been 8 then the infantryman couldn't have fought effectively. ALL the support folks at home and abroad were necessary.
I bet you wouldn't be mocking an Air Force person currently serving in Kandahar and safe for dodging their duty would you ? They can't all be out there kicking in doors Nd if you'd ever seen some shooting yourself you'd soon realize you'd give pretty much anything to become REMF yourself.
I'm saddened it is thought funny to mock anyone who gave up a part of their youth to serve their country.
Dave
Dudleydoright said:Hey Matt,
I could see though that this excellent thread might become a little off-colour and wanted to make a point. Especially as we are talking crushers here and pretty much anyone who owns one and wears one nowadays didn't serve at all when they were permitted for wear. Who are civillians and especially any re-enactors out there to mock someone who was at least serving at the time and were quite entitled to wear a Bancroft or Flighter? Especially anyone who wears flight gear.
Cheers,
Dave