An "S" Flak shoulder strap: what is it?

[Rick Research]

Worn by a Saxon Unteroffizier, dated October 1917. Appears to be tunic colored strap material with dark piping, with a metal (!) Flak device and initial "S"--

Is that for


"Scheinwerfer"?

"Schwere"?

or

"Schule"?

[Mike Dunn]

Could it be Scheiße? Na, how about Schule? Mike

[Tony & Kaiser]

Yes, it is Scheinwerfer (search light). I have an M15 cloth strap like this.

Other FLAK straps are:

K Auf Kraftwagen (vehicle FLAK)
M Machinen Kanonen (MG FLAK)
O Orstfestflak (Stationary FLAK)

As I said, I have the S, I am looking (many years now) for examples of the K, M, and O. It appears there is a better chance I will grow wings and flutter accross the border to visit Rick, than find them.

Tony http://www.kaisersbunker.com/

[Rick Research]

Thanks Tony!

I'm surprised at the strap being tunic colored with ? red piping, and the metal insignia are quite odd (?) for a Junior NCO too.

Here is the rest of "your friend, Karl." Note that his marksmanship lanyard has an acorn, not artillery shell, so he was not originally from the artillery branch!

[Rick Research]

Tony sent me these of Flak straps in his collection. The only ones I have ever seen have been red and yellow like Tony's:

[Rick Research]

And here's a K-Flak truck from Tony's photo collection. What strikes me is that the driver must have had a helluva war at the front in his full leathers!

[Rick Research]

This may be too small to tell, but it's the gear stowed o the running board of the truck above-- including a camouflaged M16 steel helmet: