Original World War Two South African Air Force (SAAF) Crusher Cap and Original Headset.
The Cap features a lovely bronze, well patina’d SAAF insignia device. No labels inside and only slightly worn, the leather inner band is in excellent condition and has a South African Union Defence Force Broad Arrow on the inner of the band.
During World War Two this style of cap was worn by SAAF Flight Personnel such as Pilots, Bombardiers, and Navigation specialists aboard aircraft so they could wear headsets over their caps. The same cannot be done with the more traditional style of visor cap that is stiff and has a non-bending visor.
Crusher Cap’s were the preferred headgear worn by Pilot’s and Air Crewmen on all sides and fronts of the Second World War due to their handsome appeal, comfortability, easily fit a headset over them, and the ability to stuff it into a pocket and “crush” it, hence the name; Crusher Cap.
Included with the cap are a pair of World War Two Era Headphones; made by Best Manufacturing Co of Irvington New Jersey and are configured of a HB-7 band with ANB-H-1 receivers and a PL-354 red plug. These headphones’ brown ear cups are still in good condition although they have lost majority of their early-mid war top layer of brown leather. This particular model was supplied to the South African Air Force during the Second World War and these headphones in particular came with the cap when we acquired them.
