NKVD pilotka on Ebay

[LeeG]

Hey guys,
Does anybody have an opinion on this NKVD pilotka offered on Ebay?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=10954&rd=1
The seller is saying that the "Maroon piping and cloth cloth star indicates NKVD branch while dark navy color indicates AirForce".
I didn't know that there was such a thing as an NKVD Air Force.
Thanks, Lee

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Lee, yes, as odd as it sounds there was an air arm to the NKVD. There could be traitors in the skies too Comrade!
The cap looks fine to me, but my experience of these more obscure items is limited. As to price I have no idea if this is good or bad?

Cheers, Ade.

[bnz. 42]

Hey guys,
Does anybody have an opinion on this NKVD pilotka offered on Ebay?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=10954&rd=1
The seller is saying that the "Maroon piping and cloth cloth star indicates NKVD branch while dark navy color indicates AirForce".
I didn't know that there was such a thing as an NKVD Air Force.
Thanks, Lee

The pilotka on the auction and pilotka on the photo of soldier, IMO, have different color piping branches (different contrast on B&W picture).
P.S. Dark-navy color piping indicates NKVD, later - KGB (now - FSB).
Maroon piping is MVD, which is ex-NKVD.

[bnz. 42]

Air Force's color was and still is light blue
The guy on the photo is Air Force (wings on collar tabs), but, as Adrian said, it is very possible that he was NKVD commissar.
PS. I am not an expert, but the overseas looks original to me though I am not sure if it is a war-time or post-war piece.

[Rick Research]

I'm not entirely assured of the accuracy of the scans showing "real color" and sure would like to see that cap "live."

Here I am an hour from Boston, and whoever this seller is, he certainly doesn't bother to bring stuff like this to our monthly regional militaria shows at Lowell!

It, whatever IT is, certainly looks like a 1930s period piece. The markings match those in the second armor pilotka in this thread

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=Revtrud

and from the range there of light gray/dark gray, you will see why I'm not entirely sure about the dark blue and red in the offered cap. Doug will know.

I suppose since pilotkas were "regulation," they must have had them, but I've NEVER seen State Security other than in visor caps before the war.

This style went out by mid-WW2.

I'd say it's original, but original WHAT?

[DougD]

NKVD Air Units

The NKVD had air security and transportation units from 1936-1940 or 1942. They used a dark blue uniform with red piping, thus the color of the pilotka. I have only seen one of these pullovers, in Websters collection; even had the M1935 wings on the left sleeve. I would imagine this pilotka, with the same colors, would go with it.

It seems that with the reorganization and new uniforms the NKVD used in 1940, these specialized units went away. i have heard that some of the units that were dedicated stayed around till 1942 though, so I am not sure.

There is a good article on the 1936 NKVD rank system in an old Zeughaus issue. I'll try to find it.

DougD