Canada, Commonwealth. A Royal Canadian Air Force Wedge Cap Belonging to Flight Lieutenant Edward A. Tribe

A side cap/wedge cap fabricated from a grayish-blue wool with fold-down flaps on either side. The flaps are held up via metal down-ward pointed hooks that thread through a metal-reinforced eyelet on the side of the cap. There are two rising peaks forming a valley between the two panels, the front decorated with two vertically mounted 14 mm in diameter brass buttons, with each of the buttons bearing the R.C.A.F crown and eagle insignia that hold the two ends of the flaps together. The left side exhibits a two-piece crown and eagle officer’s insignia in bronze gilt, held in place via a supporting plate under the interior lining. The inside is lined with light brown rayon-blended material with a 25 mm wide felt sweatband. It features a maker’s label with “The London Cap, Montreal” embroidered into it, and is named “Tribe” in blue ink on the opposite side. The cap measures 30 cm (w) x 11.5 cm (h), and is extremely well preserved, in overall near mint condition.

Footnote: Edward Arnold Tribe was born on October 31st, 1916. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War from June 10th, 1941 until January 23rd, 1945. He was awarded the General Service Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and a Navigator’s Badge. He enlisted on January 9th, 1951 and served as part of the 424 Auxiliary Squadron until October 23rd, 1954. He died on August 24th, 2012, and was buried in Burlington, Ontario.