Description
This is an original World War II Japanese leather flight cap, issued to aviators of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Unlike the bulkier shearling-lined winter types, this is the lightweight summer model, made of supple brown leather with a soft cloth interior and wide cheek flaps designed for use in hot climates and cockpit environments.
The cap features its original ear coverings, button chin strap, and intact rear adjustment strap. The inside is lined with tan cotton cloth, often stamped with kanji characters, though these examples are frequently faded from use and age. Designed to accommodate intercom equipment of the period, this flight cap reflects the minimalist, functional construction typical of late-war Japanese gear.
These caps were worn by fighter and bomber crews flying aircraft such as the Ki-43 Oscar, Ki-61 Tony, and other frontline aircraft of the Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters. Lightweight and form-fitting, they were often paired with flight goggles and lightweight tunics.
This example is 100% original, with strong stitching, supple leather, and light wear consistent with wartime service. No modern repairs or postwar alterations. A rare and increasingly hard-to-find piece of Imperial Japanese aviation history—ideal for any Pacific War collection, uniform restoration, or militaria display.
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