Original German WWII Luftwaffe Hauptmann Pilot Leather Flight Jacket Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Development of protective flight uniforms and equipment began with the advent of military aircraft in WWI and continued on into the Weimar and the Third Reich eras, resulting in three distinct one-piece combination pattern flight suits being approved before WWII and worn for the duration of the war.

Regulations of July 4TH 1940 and April 24TH 1941 introduced two piece protective flight suits for fighter pilots designed to increase the wearers mobility and not be as restrictive in the close confines of a cockpit. The two piece flight suits consist of separate jacket and pants and was commonly referred to as the “Kanalanzug”, (Channel Uniform).

Officers were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and were allotted a clothing allowance. Generally speaking officers bought nice quality, private purchase, uniform items but they could also choose to buy their uniforms directly from the military clothing depots. Besides the standard issue flight garments Luftwaffe personnel also utilized a wide variety of private purchase leather jackets in contradiction of regulations. These private purchase jackets appear to have been quite popular as they can be commonly seen in period photographs.

This example is a very high quality, French made private purchase, non-regulation, multi-panel chocolate brown leather construction fully lined, waist length, flight jacket with a lay down collar. The jacket features a vertical, front, zipper closure by ECLAIR. Zipper is broken at the base but otherwise complete. The jacket has two horizontal slash breast pockets with zippers both by ECLAIR. There are two waist pockets with scalloped leather cover flaps. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeves have a short vertical slash to the outside sleeve seams with a single snap closure to the cuffs with baeklite buttons.

Slip on loops and buttons for shoulder boards, complete with two matching Hauptmann (Captain) epaulets with fine silver/aluminum wire over dark yellow wool bases. Right breast features a hand embroidered silver bullion Luftwaffe eagle with white linen backing which has been hand-stitched to the leather.

All the buttons, snaps and the zippers still function (with exception of central zipper which has a small area of damage at the base).

The jacket is roughly size 36″ chest.

Overall a wonderful looking German Officer Pilot flight jacket complete with epaulets and bullion eagle, these are very difficult to find on today’s market.