An M43 Luftwaffe NCO/EM Field Cap (Einheitsfeldmütze) An M43 Luftwaffe NCO/EM Field Cap (Einheitsfeldmütze or Einheitsfliegermütze); In Luftwaffe dark grey wool & rayon blend construction with fold down side and back panels and a scalloped form with two metal buttons. The cap is complete with a hand-applied Luftwaffe trapezoid shaped cap-eagle and cocarde. The cap has a cloth covered forward visor with an internal cardboard stiffener. The interior of the cap is fully lined in grey rayon, faintly but legibly stamped 1944, 56. The lining is torn in places and there is a large moth hole in the top. A worn cap that still retains its shape and colouring, see photos. Nice original Luftwaffe M43 cap in reasonably good used condition! The Luftwaffe M43 field cap was introduced for wear by all ranks on 27 September 1943 as a replacement cap for all other field caps then in use. The design of the M43 field cap was based on the earlier M42 overseas cap (Feldmütze) and the Mountain Trooper’s Mountain Cap (Bergmütze) with minor variations. The standard issue M43 field caps were constructed of Luftwaffe blue-grey wool. Since before World War I German and Austrian mountain troops had worn a visored "ski cap" (Gebirgsmütze) with turn-down ear flaps secured in front by two buttons. A version of this cap with longer visor, false turn-down, and slightly lower crown in olive cotton twill had been issued with the tropical uniform. In 1943 a similar cap in field-grey wool with a visor intermediate in length between the mountain and tropical versions was issued to all troops for field wear only; it quickly became the most commonly seen soft headgear at the front.