WWII Imperial Japanese Pilot Cap & Flight Logbook Set with Air Association Badge
This is an extremely rare prewar aviation set from the Imperial Japanese Army, consisting of a pilot’s service cap and personal flight logbook , dated 1933 (Showa 8). The set includes key elements of early Japanese military aviation history-when flight was still a frontier, and pilots were national symbols of progress and sacrifice. This soft visor cap features an orange wool band, indicating affiliation with the Imperial Flying Association (Teikoku Hiko Kyokai /)-a semi-governmental organization founded in 1910 to promote aviation across Japan. The front bears the extremely rare aviation badge with a stylized propeller over paulownia leaves, used for training pilots and youth aviation programs. Caps like this were issued to cadets or reserve aviators undergoing training in cooperation with the military. The included logbook records flights on the Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft, known as the “Atsurio-shiki Ni-Hachi-gata” (?????). This aircraft, produced by Kawasaki, was a biplane used by the Japanese Army during the early 1930s, especially during the Manchurian Incident. The entries show active training flights, totaling 18 sorties and 2 hours 20 minutes of airtime. This set captures a specific moment in time: the early militarization of Japanese aviation, the rise of pilot culture, and the involvement of the Empire’s civilian air associations in preparing young men for war. It is not only a collectible-it’s a document of ambition, propaganda, and personal journey. Highly recommended for collectors of Imperial Japanese aviation and WWII ephemera. Own a Piece of History. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).