Black HBT Cap, what is it?

[amberg1853]

Funny thing is I know it is original but I can't figure out what organization? Possibly Todt? HBT material, condition is near mint. When I was younger and first started collecting a guy responded to one of my ads and had quite a bit of stuff his dad brought back. I did not have alot of money but managed to buy a small pile of stuff. A few weeks later when I called him back he had sold it to a dealer/collector in Arizonia. The ones that got away! Thanks in advance for your help.

Brian

[amberg1853]

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[amberg1853]

Again

[amberg1853]

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[amberg1853]

Thank you

[alexandre]

I would say...replace a correct luft eagle with black backing
and you have a classic mechanics ground crew luft side cap

[BenVK]

Agreed

[Andy C.]

I would say...replace a correct luft eagle with black backing
and you have a classic mechanics ground crew luft side cap

This is true.

[amberg1853]

Thanks guys, I thought at one point that might fit the bill but the eagle threw me. What organization is the eagle then? Safe to think that the eagle was added after the fact since one was missing and the backing happend to be black? I do remember there being quite a bit of Luftwaffe insignia as part of the group.

Brian

[J Melvin]

I wouldn't pull the eagle off of the cap until you confirm it is not an original ancillary organization's cap. If you can see the clear outline where previous insignia was removed, then go at it. If not, I'd confirm that it's not some sort of work cap for another organization. These black HBT caps were meant as work caps. They were black to keep oil and other lubricants from showing on their uniforms when worn. An Org Todt, NSFK or NSKK affiliation makes sense for this cap in its present configuration.

[amberg1853]

Jack,

Thank you for the response, I don't intend to remove the eagle. I don't see a clear outline of any other eagle, I believe this is the first and only eagle that has been on it. Almost everything that was in the group was in mint or unissued condition although there was alot of Luft insignia (and helmet), nothing was messed with that I remember. Just a nice honest collection of items his dad brought back. I have searched about every book I have and the web but for some reason this eagle throws me.

Brian