This is an example of a standard United States Air Force officer's service cap of the early 1970s.
This particular cap was worn by Brig. Gen. Richard Ault. Ault earned his wings at Kelly Field in June 1940. He served throughout World War II in the U.S. Army Air Forces Training command preparing pilots for combat. Following the war, he served with the U.S. Military Advisory Group in Nanking China. Upon his return to the United States in January 1949 he served as Directorate of Training at HQUSAF in Washington, DC. From January 1956 to 1959 he was the Assistant Chief of Air Plans Allied HQ Southern Europe. From 1960 on 1969 he held several wing commands including the 3615th Training and 6100th Support Wings. From 1969 until his retirement in February 1970 he was the Deputy Director of Plan at HQUSAF in Washington, DC.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.