Original Item: Only One Available. This very nice German Luftwaffe Flight Branch Offiziersränge (Officer Ranks) Two Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flyer's Blouse) Service Tunic is in lovely service used condition. This great piece is produced in blue grey wool and still retains the original colors very well. Close examination however shows that this example was possibly originally for an Enlisted or NCO soldier, and then was converted into an officer tunic. This included replacing all of the insignia on the tunic, however no slot was made for an officer dagger. Definitely some interesting history to this tunic!

The tunic has a "hidden" button main closure, with 4 black bakelite buttons on the right side meeting an equal number of hidden buttonholes on the left. There is a smaller fifth button for if the wearer wanted to close up the front of the collar, along with a hook and loop style closure. The two hip pockets have forward edge curved flaps, secured with blue pebbled aluminum buttons. It has a beautiful silver bullion embroidered officer's Luftwaffe Breast Eagle sewn on the top of the right breast, which is correctly sewn to the outer layer of fabric, and in great shape.

The interior of the tunic is partly lined with blue gray light cotton canvas, which shows light wear, and some age toning and staining from use. There are interior breast pockets with top button closures on both sides, as well as the usual bandage pocket on the right lower inner front side. There are also reinforcements for the the sleeves as well as straps and holes for belt hooks, which currently have two aluminum belt hooks installed, though they are not threaded through the straps, just the holes in the tunic. The left inside liner has a complete maker stamp, which gives the sizes of the tunic as well :-

D. G. W. Köln
LBA 40

39       44
96
64       59

"LBA" stands for Luftwaffebekleidungsamt, which means Air Force Clothing Office. This would indicate it was processed through there during 1940. There is also an LBA 3 40 stamp at the very top of the pocket, and the opposite pocket has what looks to be a name on it, but we believe it is probably from the soldier who brought it home.

The collar of this officer's tunic has a twisted bullion border, correct for a Luftwaffe officer's fliegerbluse. The attached Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps) are in Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow), the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel, as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). The sew-in style Field-grade Offizier schulterklappen (Officer shoulder boards) of this tunic are constructed with two rows of fine silver flatware "Russia Braid" double piping, which are plaited together to form a loop around the buttonhole. There are no rank "pips", indicating the rank of Major, a rank equivalent to a Major in the U.S. Air force. This is confirmed by the collar insignia, which each show one "gull wing" insignia inside of a wreath.

There are multiple thread loops on the left breast, as well as some below, for the attachment of medal ribbon bars and individual awards. We can assume that this soldier was relatively well-decorated, especially if they were able to rise from an EM/NCO to a field grade officer.

Overall condition is very nice, showing wear commensurate with age and service. There is some loss of the fuzzy "nap" of the wool outer shell, which looks to be much more related to wear than the moth damage, which we really did not see any off. There are some areas of stitch pulling, and the stitches on the left side of the "hidden" closure that usually keep each button separate have partly pulled out.

A great chance to pick up a great condition Luftwaffe Flight B ranch Officer tunic with a very interesting history. This would display great as is, or could be dressed up with additional items like, awards, a cap, and trousers.

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 20”
Waist: 19"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 28.5"

The Luftwaffe, the air force of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, Luftwaffe troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers had wool trousers and a short jacket with two internal lower pockets, called a Fliegerbluse, as well as a dressier 4-pocket tunic, the Tuchrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the tuxedo-style “gala” formal wear uniform of the pre-war period, to the plain coveralls worn by crews of anti-aircraft cannons. There were work uniforms, tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage clothing for airborne troops and other Luftwaffe soldiers in ground combat. Flight crews had their own specialized gear, including leather jackets and warm, electrically heated suits. Most but not all Luftwaffe uniform jackets bore the Luftwaffe emblem of a flying eagle holding a swas.