Original German WWII Luftwaffe Aviator Engineering Service Oberstabsingemieur Right and Left Collar Tab Set

Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is a lovely set of left and right set of Luftwaffe officer's Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps), which are made from felt over lacquered buckram stiffeners, and bordered with braided with silver bullion. The felt is rosa (pink) in color, the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for the Fliegeringenieurdienst (Aviation Engineering Service), responsible for maintenance and repairs of the aircraft the Luftwaffe used. The collar tabs have the silver bullion full oak leaf wreathes for a senior grade officer.

The engineering service was considered more of an administrative service, and as such they did not use the regular "gull wing" rank designators, and instead used a propellor symbol with a varying number of blades to indicate rank. In this system a 2 bladed propellor was equivalent to 1 gull wing, 3 blades equivalent to 2 gull wings, and so forth. This set has a propeller with three blades, which is for the rank of Oberstabsingemieur (Chief Staff Engineer), equivalent to a Oberstleutnant (Lt. Colonel) in one of the combat branches of the luftwaffe.

The collar tabs are in very good condition, with the bullion very well retained, showing no fraying, just some oxidation to the aluminum threads on the wings. There is also some mothing to the reverse of the right side tab, and both show traces of glue on the back. A great set, ready to add to your collection!

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.