Post by Étienne on Mar 25, 2015 17:30:01 GMT -5
The cap the 8BPC wore is said to have originated with the Groupement de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés (GCMA), which the 8BPC was once part of; however, the style of cap is very similar to a style of American civilian hunting cap, which the U.S. Army mountain or ski cap, the U.S. Army Air Force B-1 cap, and the U.S. Navy BA-2 cap utilized during World War Two were loosely based on.
Photographs of unit members show the cap being worn in 1953 and 1954 (I read that they were first produced/issued in 1953). There are said to have been three versions of the cap produced, with all three being made from U.S. HBT camouflage, from U.S. camouflage parachutes, or British “wind proof” camouflage material:
• The first version had a rounded visor, with or without elastic in the rear, and without eyelets, neck flap, or front pockets.
• The second version had a rounded visor, elastic in the rear, and two front pockets (sometimes sewn closed), with or without eyelets, and had no neck flap.
• The third version had a squared visor and neck flap (which was sometimes removed), two front pockets, two ventilation eyelets on each side, and was without elastic in the rear.
Denis Lassus, in one of his many excellent articles on Dien Bien Phu, states that each version was made of a specific camouflage material (i.e. U.S. or British), but in photos it looks like that was not the case, and that there was an overlap in versions regarding their features (as noted in the above list) as well as material.
I guess I should also state here that I read that there were solid color (I would guess a drab color, likely khaki or green) caps made in the 8BPC style, but I do not have any information on them besides that they existed.
All three versions were worn interchangeably in the unit; in some photographs, all three versions are shown being worn.
Photographs of unit members show the cap being worn in 1953 and 1954 (I read that they were first produced/issued in 1953). There are said to have been three versions of the cap produced, with all three being made from U.S. HBT camouflage, from U.S. camouflage parachutes, or British “wind proof” camouflage material:
• The first version had a rounded visor, with or without elastic in the rear, and without eyelets, neck flap, or front pockets.
• The second version had a rounded visor, elastic in the rear, and two front pockets (sometimes sewn closed), with or without eyelets, and had no neck flap.
• The third version had a squared visor and neck flap (which was sometimes removed), two front pockets, two ventilation eyelets on each side, and was without elastic in the rear.
Denis Lassus, in one of his many excellent articles on Dien Bien Phu, states that each version was made of a specific camouflage material (i.e. U.S. or British), but in photos it looks like that was not the case, and that there was an overlap in versions regarding their features (as noted in the above list) as well as material.
I guess I should also state here that I read that there were solid color (I would guess a drab color, likely khaki or green) caps made in the 8BPC style, but I do not have any information on them besides that they existed.
All three versions were worn interchangeably in the unit; in some photographs, all three versions are shown being worn.