Flea Circus Cap

48th training Detatchment Cap collaboration: Papa Nui x C.C.Benoit.

 FROM FLEAS TO FLIERS

Before you step into a cockpit, you’re not a soaring eagle; you’re just a “flea”.

Welcome to the latest collaboration between Papa Nui and CC Benoit, honoring the raw cadets of the 48th Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment.

In the scorching heat of the Central Valley, these green recruits didn’t fly fearsome fighters. They bounced tiny PT-17 Stearman biplanes down the dirt runways. With a healthy dose of classic WWII self-deprecating humor, they skipped the fierce predators and adopted the lowly "Flea" as their mascot. To up the comedy, they stitched a deadly Black Widow hourglass right onto its back—a tongue-in-cheek nod to their "lethal" combat readiness.

We’ve resurrected that legendary wartime irony. This cap features a beautifully stitched "Flea" patch paired with a bold, felt-appliqué "48" in classic mid-century varsity style. Cut, sewn, and proudly crafted in the USA from a rugged, era-authentic khaki cotton twill, this unstructured utility cap is built to weather the sun, sweat, and grease of your own daily sorties.

Each Cap also comes with an exclusive add on, an original Lieutenants' bar that's been laser etched to celebrate the collab of Papa and C.C Benoit.

Available also is the complete cap set which includes the cap, bars and a duo of squadron patches in two sizes, shoulder 10cm and breast sized 12cm, so your A-2 can be fully resplendent in your Detachment school colours. Fully hand machined in Vietnam these patches are all cotton and constructed in the old way with super soft gauze backings to enhance the authenticity of your kit.

Embrace the underdog. Remember that every ace started as a flea.

Elasticated back two sizes S/M 56-58   L/XL 59-61