Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Fliegerbluse Tunic Named Tunic to Knight's Cross Recipient Ace Pilot Hauptmann Egon Albrecht-Lemke

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Offiziersränge (Officer Ranks) Officer's Four Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flight Blouse) Service Tunic, named on the label to Knight's Cross Recipient, Ace Pilot Hauptmann Egon Albrecht-Lemke. Born 19 May 1918 in Brazil to parents of German descent, he moved to Germany before turning 18 and joined the NSDAP in 1937. By 1940 he was a pilot with ZG1 flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer (destroyer) heavy fighter, and this unit would be redesignated several times.

Albrecht-Lemke was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader), 1./ZG 1 in June 1942. Now an Oberleutnant, Albrecht-Lemke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) in May 1943 for 15 aerial victories, along with 11 aircraft, 162 motor vehicles, 254 covered vehicles, 3 locomotives, 8 Flak positions, 12 anti-tank gun positions and 8 infantry positions destroyed on the ground while in combat on the eastern front. He continued with this unit, eventually becoming Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of ZG 1, which was moved to the western front on the Atlantic Coast of France. They were later moved further inland to Austria, where they would combat the USAAF 15th Air Force, now based in Italy.

After heavy losses in July 1944, II./ZG 1 converted to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G fighter and were redesignated as III./Jagdgeschwader 76. Albrecht-Lemke then led the unit in operations over the Invasion front in western France. On 25 August 1944 Albrecht was intercepted by USAAF P-51 Mustang fighters and shot down in his Bf 109 G-14 near Creil. Albrecht-Lemke bailed out of his stricken aircraft but was dead when found on the ground. Definitely an exceedingly well accomplished and decorated pilot of the Luftwaffe.

The tunic itself made from lovely Luftwaffe Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) Blue Gray "whipcord weave" wool. The fliegerbluse tunic features a four button front closure with a lay-down collar, and it has four squared pleated pockets with scalloped button-down flaps. The pebbled buttons on the tunic are all magnetic, most likely made from aluminum tops with plated steel bases and eyeltes. 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 brushed cotton around the body, with striped white cotton in the sleeves, as is standard later in the war. There are horizontal slash pockets on the inner chest on both sides, however there is no hanger strap or eyelet for an officers dagger. There is no tailor label in the back of the collar, but the left side inner pocket has a label with the maker information, which is also filled out with the owners name:-

KUHN & NUPNAU
MÜNCHEN
Herr.    Egon Albrecht
No. 117      Datum 7. 7. 1943

The right breast of the uniform has a correct hand embroidered silver bullion 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 Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow), the correct Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel, as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). The Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have the same color bases, and have four rows of silver "Russia Braid" around the edge with two gold rank "Pips" added, indicating the rank of Hauptmann (Captain). This is confirmed by the collar insignia, which each show three "gull wing" insignia over an oak leaf wreath.

There are two thread loops over the left breast pocket, as well as three pairs of thread loops on the pocket itself. There is also a pair of thread loops on the right breast pocket. The top buttonhole has the award ribbons from an Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 and the Eastern Medal. We have compared this tunic to a period example Albrecht-Lemke was pictured in, and the number of thread loops and location is almost an exact match. On the left the top award would have been a Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe, with a Wound Badge, Iron Cross 1st Class, and a Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge. The right pocket would have had the German Cross in Gold.

This uniform came out of an old estate collection, and unfortunately we do not have any further provenance than that. It looks to be all period correct and the insignia are all "well rested", with no signs of alterations anytime recently. The writing on the label matches the style of ink that we have seen on other period marked tunics. We did however notice that there are some post war repairs and alterations to the interior of the tunic, which looks to have seen a good amount of use.

A lovely Luftwaffe Officer Flight Branch Tunic, named to a known WWII Ace pilot and Knight's Cross recipient. Ready to research and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 18.5”
Waist: 18"
Hip: 22"
Front length: 28"

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.