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 aircrews

man'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

till 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 in 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.