Cap, Enlisted Men, US Army, S/Sgt. Louie Canepa, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th Air Force, USAAF, ETO

Nice genuine WWII US Army Other Ranks visor cap, featuring a superior quality sheepskin sweatband bearing mention 'Real Roan Leather'.

The lack of stiffener gives this hat a 'broken' shape quite popular in the Air Forces.

Size 7.

Very good, worn condition; retains its cap badge, leather chinstrap and buttons.

Various inscriptions visible in the cap and on the reverse of the leather sweatband indicate that the present hat once belonged to some L.M. Canepa, ASN 19042263, serving with 362nd Fighter Squadron, USAAF.

Louie Morton Canepa was born on September 16, 1910 in Monterey, California to Italian parents and joined the US Army on February 12, 1942. He went on to serve as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Corps and deployed to Europe with 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, which flew P-51 Mustangs. He was discharged in October 1945 as a Staff Sergeant, and passed away on December 5, 1996.

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=19042263&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=1697173

https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/148080285/louie-m-canepa

Illustration documents available in digital format only.