Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Enlisted Combat Field Blouse Tunic – Excellent Condition Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This WWII German Luftwaffe Mannschaften (Enlisted man’s) Combat Feldbluse (Field Blouse) Tunic is in excellent unissued condition. These service tunics began to be designed and used in the late 1930s as “drill” or “work” tunics, which would conserve wear on the more delicate wool blend uniforms. Once the war began in earnest, it was realized that they were much more appropriate for use in combat as well, and definitely much more appropriate during the warmer summer months. They were first made from relatively lightweight HBT fabric with pleated pockets, but as the war continued the design was simplified somewhat.

This lovely Combat Field Blouse is made from sturdy cotton twill with a gray green color to it, and is mid weight, seeming more appropriate for spring or fall than summer, though it is possible examples like this were used in the Italian campaigns later in the war. It features four front pockets without pleats and rectangular top flaps, definitely more of the late war style. The interior is reinforced around the sleeves and sides with Luftwaffe gray rayon, and is outfitted with belt clips attached to rayon straps. The area under the left sleeve has issue information over stamped size markings, which are still fully legible. The top line looks to begin L.B.A., for the Luftwaffebekleidungsamt, which means Air Force Clothing Office, and ends with 4, suggesting 1944 issue.

The front closure features 6 pebbled magnetic buttons, which are painted Luftwaffe blue and maker marked on the back. They are retained by metal circlips under a flap on the right interior of the tunic, though one has been replaced by a modern split ring. The chest and waist pockets are closed by identical buttons with circlips on the rear.

The tunic is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German Luftwaffe field service tunics. The attractive Luftwaffe breast eagle is the correct late war embroidered type, and machine stitched to the right chest. The uniform does not have any attached Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps), which was standard for the Field tunics. It does however have enlisted button attached Schulterklappen (Shoulder flaps) with Goldgelb (Gold-Yellow) piping around the exterior. This is the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots and ground personnel, as well as Fallschirmjäger (parachute troops). As there are no devices attached to the shoulder flaps, these are for the lowest enlisted rank of Flieger, or Airman.

Condition is very good, mainly showing wear on the interior rayon reinforcements, which are much more easily damaged than the sturdy canvas that the rest of the uniform is constructed from. There is also some oxidation and finish loss on the buttons, very common for an item that is around 80 years old. There is no real wear on the exterior from service, so it definitely looks like all the wear is from long storage.

A great chance to pick up an excellent unissued example of a Luftwaffe flight branch Field Blouse Tunic, with just a bit of storage wear on the interior. This would display great as is, with a lovely clean look, or could be dressed up a bit with some specialist insignia.

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9″
Shoulder to sleeve: 26”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 19″
Waist width: 18.5″
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.