Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe Offiziersränge (Officer Ranks) Four Pocket Service Tunic for the Fliegeringenieurdienst, or Aviation Engineering Service, accompanied by a closely matching pair of named and 1942 dated officer breeches. The tunic carries the distinctive post-1940 engineering branch collar insignia with two-bladed propellers above oak leaf wreaths, sew-in officer shoulder boards without rank pips, and an early style hand embroidered silver bullion Luftwaffe eagle.

The service tunic is made from attractive Luftwaffe Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) Blue Gray "whipcord weave" wool. It features a four button front closure with a lay-down collar, and it has four squared pleated pockets with square button-down flaps. The pebbled buttons on the tunic are all non-magnetic, most likely made entirely of aluminum. They all have maker markings on the back, and are stitched directly to the uniform fabric.

The interior of the tunic is lined with dark blue rayon around the body, with striped white rayon in the sleeves, as is standard. There are horizontal slash pockets on the inner chest on both sides, and there is a hanger strap with a D ring on the end for a dagger, which matches up with the large eyelet that exits through the left waist pocket. There are the remnants of a maker name tag on the left inner pocket, however it has frayed away to almost nothing. There is however still an intact tailor label in the rear neck, which reads as follows:

VERKAUFSABTEILUNG
der
Luftwaffe
(L.V.A.)
BERLIN S w 68
Puttkamerstr. 16-18

This indicates it was purchased directly through the Luftwaffe.

The right breast of the uniform has an early hand embroidered silver bullion "Droop Tail" Luftwaffe eagle sewn in place with the correct stitching pattern. It is only stitched to the outer layer of fabric, so it is the original eagle installed on this uniform tunic. 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 Fliegeringenieurdienst (Aviation Engineering Service), responsible for maintenance and repairs of the aircraft the Luftwaffe used.

The sew-in style Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have the same color bases, and have two rowes of silver "Russia Braid" double piping around the edge, with no pips added, indicating the engineering rank of Ingenieur (Engineer), equivalent to a Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) in the other branches. This is confirmed by the post 1940 pattern collar insignia, which each show a two bladed propeller insignia over an oak leaf wreath. This is equivalent to a single "gull wing" in other branches, as there is no such thing as a single bladed propeller

The included matching breeches are made from "whipcord weave' wool as well, with the color a very close match to the tunic, with just a bit less blue in the mix. They show top quality bespoke construction, and retain the original tailor label on the striped white rayon interior partial lining, which reads as follows:

DER REITHOSENSPEZIALIST
Oskar Berndt
SEIFHENNERSDORF-SACHSEN
Herr Franz Wittek
in Garmisch
Nr. 3574 DATUM 18. 4. 42

They feature a three hidden button fly front closure, which has a metal hook and loop at the top. There are no belt loops around the top, but there is a size adjustment strap with a fire blued steel buckle on the rear, and also buttons for the attachment of suspenders. There are two diagonal slash pockets on front, with a button closed rear slash pocket on the right side, and a small horizontal slash pocket next to the fly for a watch. The bottoms of the legs have laced closures at the bottom, with three additional buttons below these on brushed cotton bottoms intended to go inside the boots.

The tunic is in very good condition overall with only light service wear. The insignia show minor wear and age toning, and there is some staining around the collar edge, but no major tears, repairs, or structural damage are noted.

The breeches are likewise in very good condition. Their principal condition issue is damage and several holes to the upper rayon partial lining, while the exterior wool remains well preserved.

With its distinctive Fliegeringenieurdienst collar insignia, officer Russia braid shoulder boards, early bullion Luftwaffe eagle, L.V.A. Berlin label, and accompanying named 1942 dated breeches to Franz Wittek of Garmisch, this is a particularly interesting Luftwaffe engineering officer uniform set. The frayed interior tunic label, collar staining, light insignia wear, and damaged breeches lining are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Luftwaffe engineering service, officer uniform, named uniform, or advanced German WWII aviation collection.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 24"
Shoulder to shoulder: 15.5"
Chest width: 18"
Waist: 16"
Hip: 20"
Front length: 30"

Breeches:
Waist: 15.5"
Rise: 14"
Inseam: 24"

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.