Luftwaffe Collection, Part 1

[Mike H]

This particular forum is one of my favorites as it enables us to view other collections as well as share our own. My interest is Luftwaffe -- to include not only badges and medals but also uniforms, headgear, and flight equipment.

The Luftwaffe is a fascinating branch of the Wehrmacht as they were involved in a huge variety of operations --- not only flying and aircraft, of course, but flak and paratroops. The collecting possibilities are almost endless, as George Petersen told me one time, and so I have pretty much specialized in flight related material.

I will run photos of my collection as I have time and this is Part 1 of the series. Francois Saez is my inspiration here as the photos he has run of his collection have been outstanding, as well as others here in this forum.

The first photo is of a curio cabinet I have with all sorts of items. This photo features a mint condition (out of the box) Clemens & Wagner officer's visor, a photo of General Robert Ritter von Greim (an original and not a reprint from the Bieber studio in Berlin), and a General's visor cap (also a C&W) which is the same one featured on the cover of the Halcomb headgear book.

Also in the middle of the photo is my collection of bullion Luftwaffe qualification badges. The "Knemeyer" flight computer (a nickname given this tool by pilots) was presented to me by an old friend who flew JU-88s and ME-262s in the war. He had it since 1942.

Questions are welcome and if anyone wants some closeups, I can accommodate given time.

Mike Heuer

[Mike H]

Bullions

Here is another view of the curio cabinet display and a closeup of the bullion qualification badges. The real ones grab you by the throat, as they are of incredible quality. The retired pilot's badge is almost three-dimensional.

Mike Heuer

[Mike H]

Qualification Badges

And the collection of qualification badges. The pilot's badges are Juncker and BSW. I also have GWL and OM marked pilot badges not pictured here (they are on uniform displays). The PO is a lightweight Assmann. The Air Gunner/Radio Operator is a beautiful Deumer piece (one of my favorites).

The flight clasp collection is not complete as I am still missing a cased Recon in silver. I prefer cased badges --- though the transports are never cased. Most all of the frontflugspange are unmarked, which I prefer.

Mike

[Mike H]

Other medals

I also collect the other medals that Luftwaffe personnel would have worn. Here is a selection.

The DK is a "134" marked piece. The Spanish crosses are L/11 marked pieces in LDO boxes with the exception of the Gold which is "900" marked.

Mike

[Mike H]

Steins and daggers

This photo shows a couple of Luftwaffe steins as well as a mint condition second model dagger.

Mike

[Mike H]

Photo and Hat

This photo shows another one of the Bieber studio prints I have --- this one of General Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf. He committed suicide in Berchtesgaden in May 1945. He is mentioned toward the end of the "Band of Brothers" book by Ambrose as they found his body in the officer's quarters in Berchtesgaden.

The hat is a General's overseas --- hard to find. It is maker-marked on the interior to the Luftwaffe Verkaufsabteilung in Berlin.

The bayonet is one of those remembrance pieces --- it is particular neat as it has the Luftwaffe eagle along with a ME-108 flying over the German countryside.

Mike

[Mike H]

Clock, stickpins, Cholm

This photo is fairly self-explanatory. The Cholm shield has been featured on the forum before. The Flieger Kalendar is from 1938 and features the Focke-Wulf factory logo on the front and is unused. The stickpins are another favorite collectible of mine.

The clock is from an aircraft, of course, but no story here. I have another like it that came from a Fieseler Storch that a friend of mine flew after they captured it and its pilot on 8 May 1945 in Czechoslovakia --- another interesting story. They left the airplane behind when they came home but he took the clock and later gave it to me.

Mike

[Mike H]

Oberst Torsten Christ

This is a uniform I have had for 10 years now -- purchased from a dealer friend in Germany and only having been in the hands of one or two collectors before me. It is named to Oberst Torsten Christ and was tailored by Josef A. Worda of Innsbruck, Austria.

Oberst Christ was the winner of the RK as Chief of the Generalstab of the VIII.Fliegerkorps. There are numerous loops on the uniform --- for the DK, Spanish Cross, and various other badges. It is in mint condition and again, the quality of original pieces like this just jumps out at you. It came complete with the carmine-striped pants.

I continue to look for information on Christ. Amazingly, his RK document was for sale at the last Louisville Show. I have only been able to uncover a few photos of him. One photocopy is of a watercolor portrait that was done of him and offered by a German auctionhouse a few years ago --- showing the exact same ribbon bar as seen on this uniform (which came with it).

Mike

[Mike H]

Another view of the case ...

Here is a view of some of the pieces I placed in the same case as the Christ uniform.

The officer's M43 was something I looked for a very long time. This one came from Bill Shea (no maker mark but with partial leather sweatband and bullion insignia). The duty officer cord is also somewhat rare. As you can see, there is another second model dagger here (an SMF with 100% gilting on the pommel) as well as a flight helmet and brocade belt/aguillette combination in its original case and unused.

Mike

[Mike H]

Officer Mannequin

I only have two mannequins on display at the moment --- just no room for more. But this one is of an Oberleutnant in full dress (not parade -- he would have worn the helmet).

This display is not strictly correct as you can see he has an EK2 ribbon on the tunic which would have placed the date after 1 September 1939. The brocade belt was not to be worn after that date but portraits from the war show the officers posing with this sort of uniform, so I permitted myself the license of being slightly incorrect. The pilot's badge is a mint GWL. The tunic has loops for the Spanish Cross (not for the DK --- which was slightly different in the loop sizes).

An interesting note which some might remark on --- the difference in color between the breeches and the tunic. The tunic is a darker blue than normally seen. However, period photos show wide variations in color and my own uniforms differ somewhat.

I call your attention to pages 128 and 129 of the outstanding color book, "Hitler's Berghof, 1928-1945". Here Hitler is shown with a large group of Luftwaffe officers. Note the officer third from the right -- the color of his tunic differs from the breeches and a darker blue than the rest of the men in the room. Very interesting.

Mike

[Mike H]

Pilot mannequin

Here is a photo of my other mannequin --- an early war pilot.

The boots are dated 1940 and feature the double zips. The flightsuit itself is of a fairly large size and has the original paper instructions on how to get out of the suit in an emergency, still in the pocket. The rest of the equipment is standard. The gloves are dated 1937. I am still looking for goggles, oxygen mask, and parachute.

Mike

[Mike H]

Uniforms poster

Here is an original poster of Luftwaffe uniforms and insignia --- if all else fails, read the instructions!

Mike

[Mike H]

Keiper uniform

This is the uniform of Generalleutnant Ludwig Keiper, who was head of the Luftwaffe mission in Slovakia at the end of the war. This has been featured on this forum before.

I am gradually filling out the badges. I have never seen so many loops on one uniform before. Keiper undoubtedly was a clothes-horse. The aguillette is not original to the uniform.

The uniform was tailored by a French maker in Paris as Keiper was stationed there briefly, early in the war. The breeches are of a corded material and almost royal blue in color.

If anyone has a screwback version of the Turkish Star, please contact me!

Mike

[Mike H]

Cufftitles

Most of my cufftitles are shown here --- still missing that elusive "Tannenberg".

I also have a hand-embroidered Kreta which has been featured on the forum as well as the Richtofen 1917/18 commemorative. These are not in the case as they are still sewn together in the back.

Mike

[Mike H]

DK Closeup

I should have featured this earlier but here is a photo of the 134 marked DKiG.

Mike