{"product_id":"draft-original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-service-worn-summer-flying-suit-flight-helmet-fliegerschutzanzug-fur-sommer-copy","title":"Original German WWII Luftwaffe Oberleutnant’s Summer Flying Suit by Ernst Rihm of Berlin \u0026 Two Flight Helmets","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a nice service used WWII German Luftwaffe Summer Flyers Suit (\u003cem\u003eFliegerschutzanzug für Sommer\u003c\/em\u003e) with two original flight helmets. The suit is a one piece, coverall style summer flight suit constructed in slightly mottled, white flecked, tan cotton with leather and metal fittings. We often see these looking like they never left the depot, but this one looks to have seen moderate service. Some of the zippers are broken or gone, and there are several stitch repairs across the suit. The helmets are in fair shape with some tears and one has holes in the earcups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost buttons, snaps and zippers on the suit are present, though they definitely do show wear from age and use. The interior flap retains a very faint stamped maker’s mark:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIb\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eErnst Rihm\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e…. 194…\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis denotes manufacture by \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eErnst Rihm of Berlin\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e in the early 1940s, but the marking is too faint to determine the year of manufacture. The suit’s leg zippers are in rough shape, with both of the outer zippers missing the zippers completely, and the inner brass zippers appear to have been stitched on later. The snaps are \u003cb\u003ePRYM\u003c\/b\u003e-marked. There is another tag for a different maker along the front flap, for \u003cstrong\u003eKarl Heisler \u003c\/strong\u003eof \u003cstrong\u003eBerlin\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach sleeve has a stitched rank showing two birds over one solid horizontal line, denoting the rank of \u003cb\u003eOberleutnant\u003c\/b\u003e, or \u003cb\u003e1st Lieutenant\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe zippers are a mix of \u003cb\u003eRAPID\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eRI-RI\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eRHEINNADEL\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eZIPP \u003c\/b\u003emarked examples, with most in good shape minus the leg zippers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first flight helmet is a simplified version and has a faintly-stamped tag inside noting the maker as \u003cb\u003eSandiez \u0026amp; Co. \u003c\/b\u003eand the size as \u003cb\u003e57\u003c\/b\u003e. The silk lining shows minor wear with some sweatstaining from period use. The buckles are oxidized but in good shape and the straps are all retained. The strap of this helmet is stamped \u003cb\u003eL.B.A.B.F. 41\u003c\/b\u003e. This denotes issue in 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second flight helmet is a LKP S101 Summer Pilot Flying Helmet with heavy wear, with large holes made in both ear cups with red paint on the exterior of both. We are unsure when or why this was done, but it could’ve been to allow the use of a different earphone system, as the wire for this one was torn out long ago. The inner label reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFL. Kopfhaube Gr. 53\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBaumuster LKp S101\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGerät - Nr 124-436 B\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWerk - Nr - 1 K. H s l\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnf. Z Ln 26617\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHersteller\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDeutsche Telephonwerke\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eund Kabelindustrie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, the Ernst Rihm-marked summer flying suit, applied Oberleutnant insignia, mixed wartime hardware, broken leg zippers, size 57 Sandiez \u0026amp; Co. helmet, and size 53 Deutsche Telephonwerke LKp S101 form an especially interesting Luftwaffe flying grouping. The repairs, sweat staining, broken zippers, ear-cup alterations, and missing communications wiring all point to genuine period and post-war use rather than an untouched depot set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Measurements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollar to shoulder: 10\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 25\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 19.5\"\u003cbr\u003eChest width: 18\"\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 18\"\u003cbr\u003eHip: 20\"\u003cbr\u003eFront length: 63\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePants:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 20\"\u003cbr\u003eRise: 11\"\u003cbr\u003eInseam: 27\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45525268561989,"sku":"ONSV26WSV088","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/25CCC801-CAE9-4849-9AE1-551EE92714E0.jpg?v=1786394180","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/draft-original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-service-worn-summer-flying-suit-flight-helmet-fliegerschutzanzug-fur-sommer-copy","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}