Artifact Friday: USAAC Cap

This week, we talk about crush caps, which were popular in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Crush caps, also known as the 50 mission crush, were a signifier of not just service but of experience. The crush cap came into existence from the need for modifications to the standard rigid officers' hat. With bomber pilots and aircrews using headsets, many difficulties arose with the rigid hat, and the stiffeners had to be removed to create a more crushed, floppy look for headset compatibility.

Over time, the more crushed a pilot or aircrewman's hat became, the more experienced they looked. Not only did this hat create a new modification, but it became a symbol to the Army Air Force. The cap itself was usually made out of wool or cotton and was a part of the Army Air Corps uniform.

Due to being a part of the uniform, it came in colors such as olive drab, which was commonly used in the European theater, and khaki, which was typically used in the Pacific theater. Typically, these hats were adorned with insignia on them to identify rank and service branch, which could help others identify quickly if someone was a flight officer or a commissioned officer. Emblems such as the brass eagle, the seal of the United States, were used on commissioned officers' hats and enlisted personnel.

Flight officers would have a specific badge that showed their specific rank, and warrant officers wore their special warrant officer insignia, which was a brass eagle with their wings upturned. The look of the crush cap became iconic, and many high-ranking officials like Douglas MacArthur adopted the style. This became a popular symbol of the Army Air Corps and remains a sign of experience and respect of the wearer.