Hungary, Kingdom. An Air Force NCO’s Side Cap, c. 1943

Constructed of a green wool exterior, with a fold-down panel around the circumference secured together by two zinc buttons bearing the insignia of the Hungarian Air Force meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes. The front of the cap has a smaller folding panel located behind the buttons of the main panel. The peak bears a silvered magnetic metal cockade with the tri-colour of the Hungarian flag in red, white, and green enamels at the centre, surrounded by five ribbed and notched metal rings, held in place by a butterfly clip-style clasp fitting through the interior of the cap. The left side has a silvered aluminum Hungarian Air Force insignia depicting a crowned royal eagle, secured in place with olive green threading fed through the die-holes at either end and secured in place on the underside of the fold down flap, measuring 65 mm (w) x 43 mm (h). The interior of the cap has a 37 mm-thick brown leather sweatband lining the circumference, held in place by two rows of precise stitching. The interior liner is composed of a tan rayon-blended material bearing a partially-intact orange stamp reading “KR 943”. Measuring 283 mm (l) x 124 mm (h) when folded. There is some chipping to the silver and enamels of the cockade, as well as minor soiling of the interior liner, but the cap presents in an otherwise near extremely fine condition.