Air Sea Rescue (Seenotdienst) Visor

[John R.]

I finally purchased this visor from Gary at http://deathheads.net/index.html and wanted to start a thread on the subject of of the headgear of the Seenotdienst (air-sea rescue) personnel of the Luftwaffe.

There is almost no information on these visors on WAF but they are covered in two references that I could find:

1. Headgear of Hitler's Germany by Jill Halcomb and Wilhelm P.B.R. Saris with Otto Spronk

and

2. Defending the Reich by David Littlejohn

I will post images of my visor followed by information concerning this organization with photo credits linked to the numbers 1 and 2 above.

It is clear that these units and civilian personnel were in use from before the war and throughout the war in all theaters of the conflict from Norway to the Aegean.

John

[John R.]

My visor 1

[John R.]

2

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3

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4

The sweatband is broken in various places, but a very rare visor in any condition. If anybody can identify the maker of the cap from the stamp inside I would appreciate it.

John

[John R.]

5

[John R.]

Information from David Littlejohn

[John R.]

Littlejohn 2

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3

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4

Note that while these are civilian mariners wearing nautical uniforms, they are not technically military. However, the rescue vessel is armed.

[John R.]

From Headgear of Hitler's Germany.

[John R.]

2

[John R.]

I also have images of such a visor from the Craig Gottleib Archives. Courtesy of Craig Gottleib.

http://www.craiggottlieb.com/content/about.asp

[John R.]

2a

[John R.]

3a