Original German WWII Luftwaffe Summer Flying Suit Named to Knight’s Cross Recipient Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. A nearly identical suit named to Knight’s Cross winner Lagois ‘Fred’ Ehrenfried can be found in the IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM at this link.

Lagois ‘Fred’ Ehrenfried, born 23 May 1915 in Leipzig, joined the Luftwaffe in November 1939 and flew as part of Lehrgeschwader 2 during the Battles of France and Britain, being shot down in the former. From 1942 he was a member of I Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 1, flying ground attack operations on the Eastern Front, and was awarded the German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) in gold later that year. Having amassed over 600 combat flights in March 1944, Oberfeldwebel Lagois, then of 5 Staffel, Schlachtgeschwader 2 ‘Immelmann’, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Lagois was killed the following month when his Fw 190 was hit by friendly anti-aircraft fire near the Khersonyes airfield in Crimea, causing his aircraft to crash into the Black Sea.

This is a One-piece step-in flying suit made of light brown and white flecked cotton fabric, featuring a turn-down collar with a leather strap fastening, diagonal zipper opening to the front, horizontal zipper fly at the crotch (indicative of the earlier type), zip openings at the arm and leg cuffs and a button-down flap over the right shoulder. To the left torso is a long concealed vertical opening over which a pointed button flap is secured, covering a quick release ring-pull, linked to a length of cord on the inside which is held in place by brown lacing; pulling this allows the suit to be taken off quickly in an emergency. At each knee is a horizontal zip pocket across the front and a vertical zip pocket to the side, while at either side of the waist is a vertical zip opening allowing access to the interior. Stitched to the centre of the chest is a double vertical loop of brown leather, intended for the attachment of the oxygen mask hose clips. All zippers are fitted with pull-tabs of brown leather.

This is an excellent near mint condition example. All buttons, snaps and zippers are complete and in excellent condition. The snaps are marked PRYM. All zippers function and are all marked ZIPP or LENZIP and function perfectly. Interior bears a name label that is stamped in ink: Lagois, Ehrenfr.

These coveralls were made to fit over regular uniforms. Overall excellent condition with minor wear and usage toning. Classic piece of Luftwaffe flight gear with insignia offered in excellent hard to find large size (approximate US 42).

There were three main types of flying suits used by the Luftwaffe pre-war and these continued to be used throughout the Second World War (with the addition of several types of jacket & trouser combinations). Each of the three earlier types were designed for flying in different types of terrain and weather. This, the lightweight summer flying combination suit, was invariably used by trainee pilots and aircrew and is normally associated with crews of bombers on operations, although sometimes worn by fighter pilots too. For use in warmer weather, this unlined suit was worn over the man’s standard service dress uniform.