txuko Posted January 10, 2018 Share #1 Posted January 10, 2018 Hello guys. Is it a real ww2 crusher cap pilot or simple officer cap? Thanks in avance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted January 10, 2018 Share #2 Posted January 10, 2018 That would be an officer hat with the stiffener taken out to give it the floppy appearance. Quite commonly done. That hat itself is period and just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted January 10, 2018 Share #3 Posted January 10, 2018 I'd also note that it's out of elastique material rather than doeskin, and I think that makes it a bit more desirable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeplover Posted January 10, 2018 Share #4 Posted January 10, 2018 how could you tell if a pilot wore it unless named? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 10, 2018 Share #5 Posted January 10, 2018 how could you tell if a pilot wore it unless named? You can't. And a 'crusher' refers to the brim being extremely flexible and this does not appear to be one. Not all aviators wore crushers. This looks like a nice WWII Army Officer's visor hat..........Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 11, 2018 Share #6 Posted January 11, 2018 Army Air Force pilots were Army officers, some wore standard officer's cap with a stiff visor, some wore 'crushers' and vice-versa. It seems every WW2 Army officer's cap for sale today is described as a "crusher cap" but very few are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txuko Posted January 11, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted January 11, 2018 It seems every WW2 Army officer's cap for sale today is described as a "crusher cap" but very few are. This is for real! Armand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted January 11, 2018 Share #8 Posted January 11, 2018 Indeed. Since the term "crusher" was originally coined by function, unless you can provide provenance, there is no way to know if it is a "real" crusher. This has been debated before and despite what the enthusiastic collectors say - that only a Flightweight or Flighter by Bancroft and the like are true crushers, a "real" crusher is what a "real" crusher was. I have seen groupings of guys who never left the ground that contained Bancroft "Flighters". And for the record that has a layered brim that is easily formed. I have one quite like it that had many missions on it. Now one of those hard bulbous-edged EM-type caps? - doubtful too many even tried to curl those. JMO, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted January 12, 2018 Share #9 Posted January 12, 2018 Indeed. Since the term "crusher" was originally coined by function, unless you can provide provenance, there is no way to know if it is a "real" crusher. This has been debated before and despite what the enthusiastic collectors say - that only a Flightweight or Flighter by Bancroft and the like are true crushers, a "real" crusher is what a "real" crusher was. I have seen groupings of guys who never left the ground that contained Bancroft "Flighters". And for the record that has a layered brim that is easily formed. I have one quite like it that had many missions on it. Now one of those hard bulbous-edged EM-type caps? - doubtful too many even tried to curl those. JMO, Dave Spot on, Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted January 12, 2018 Share #10 Posted January 12, 2018 You can fold a crusher up and put it in your pocket. Many AAF officers including flyers would have a regular army officer visor and give it the 50 mission look. So it would look like a crusher. But a true "crusher'' can be crushed into a ball. The visor that started this thread is not a true crusher but has the look and could have been worn by officer air crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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