Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Major Officer Fliegerbluse Uniform Tunic with Early Bullion "Droop-Tail" Eagle

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Offiziersränge (Officer Ranks) Officer's Four Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flight Blouse) Service Tunic, 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 square button-down flaps. The pebbled buttons on the tunic are all magnetic, most likely from steel and 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 brushed cotton around the body, with striped white rayon in the sleeves, as is standard. There is a horizontal slash pocket on the inner left chest, and there is a hanger strap for a dagger, which matches up with the large eyelet that exits through the left waist pocket. We checked inside and were not able to locate any markings.

The right breast of the uniform has a very desirable hand embroidered early style "Droop-Tail" 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, and it really looks great, showing very little wear.

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 small thread loops surrounding the left breast pocket, with a few on the right as well, for installation of awards that are no longer present, As a major the owner of the uniform would have been highly decorated, receiving multiple campaign and long service awards. 

Overall condition is very good, showing light to moderate wear during the war. There is definitely wear to the fuzzy "nap" of the fabric, and there are also small tears and scattered moth holes throughout, and unfortunately reality wool uniforms from WWII. They do not majorly detract from the tunic, though we definitely recommend that the future owner store it in a location properly secured against clothing moths. There are no major tears, repairs, or other major condition issues that we can see. Just a nice honest used tunic.

A very nice Luftwaffe Flight Branch Senior Officer's Tunic, ready to outfit with some awards and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 14.5"
Chest width: 18”
Waist: 17"
Hip: 21"
Front length: 30"

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.