Original German WWII Luftwaffe Signals Enlisted Radioman’s M40 Fliegerbluse Flight Blouse Tunic Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This WWII German Luftwaffe Mannschaften (Enlisted man’s) M40 Two Pocket Fliegerbluse (Flyer’s Blouse) Service Tunic is in very good lightly used condition. This great piece is produced in Luftwaffe Fliegerblau (flyer’s blue) blue grey wool and shows very light wear from use, as well as age and light exposure. There is no wear through on the collar, and the bottom of the uniform and sleeves are still in very good condition.

The front closure features 4 bakelite buttons, with a 5th for the collar, which is unfortunately missing. The buttons have “hidden” button holes under a flap, so it has a very streamlined look when fastened up, especially without the chest pockets. The waist pockets are closed by pebbled aluminum buttons, which are faintly maker marked on the back. The tunic is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German Luftwaffe tunics. The attractive Luftwaffe breast eagle is the correct late war embroidered type, and hand stitched to the right chest.

The attached enlisted man’s Kragenpatten (Collar Flaps) are a saddle brown (braun), the Luftwaffe Waffenfarbe (corps color) for the Air communications corps (Luftnachrichtentruppe), usually referred to as “Signals”. There is a single “gull wing” insignia on the Collar Flaps, indicating the lowest Enlisted rank of Flieger (Airman). The button attached Schulterklappen (Shoulder flaps) have the same color piping, around the circumference, and no additional devices, confirming the rank. There is a Funker (Radioman) specialist insignia on the bottom of the left sleeve, so they were most likely referred to as a “Funker”, and not “Flieger”.

A great chance to pick up a very nice lightly used condition Luftwaffe Signals Flight Blouse tunic. This would display great as is, with a lovely clean look, or could be dressed up a bit with some medals and ribbons.

Approx. Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5”
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 17”
Waist width: 17″
Hip width: 20”
Front length: 26″

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.