What is this shoulderboard?

[Gerd Becker]

Hi all,


can someone tell me, what a shoulderboard is shown on the photo? Is he a member of the FEA (Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung)

Thanks in advance

best,
gerd

[Gerd Becker]

Here is the complete picture:

[Glenn2438]

Regimental Cypher

Gerd,

although it is difficult to make out the rank stars on his shoulder boards, that seems to be the regimental cypher of the Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexander III. von Rußland (Westpreußisches) Nr. 1 - his parent regiment.

Regards
Glenn

[Gerd Becker]

Gerd,

although it is difficult to make out the rank stars on his shoulder boards, that seems to be the regimental cypher of the Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexander III. von Rußland (Westpreußisches) Nr. 1 - his parent regiment.

Regards
Glenn

Thanks a lot, Glenn. Here is another picture. Can you confirm your guess?

[Sal Williams]

Hi Glenn,
I'm trying to paint my model and going nuts!
For the ground crew, they should have a red number for the FEA and I was wondering if you know whatr that is. Thier shoulderboards should be red wingwd prop with a # as well any pics of that sort of thing? Saw one on tonys site but I need whatever Richtovens guys were wearing at the time he was commander of JG1. Also an idea of what richtofens boards look like.
Best, Sal

[Glenn2438]

Shoulder Boards

Gerd and Sal,

The boards of an officer from Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 1

Regards
Glenn

[Glenn2438]

Cypher

And a close up of the cypher.

Regards
Glenn

[Gerd Becker]

And a close up of the cypher.

Regards
Glenn

Thats it! Fantastic.

Thank you very much, Glenn.

best regards,
Gerd

[Sal Williams]

Glenn,
You are GOOD! That is perfect!!!!!! Any Idea of the red number for the ground crew?

THANKS SOOOOO MUCH!!! I've been going nuts trying to find that!
Best, Sal

[AOK4]

Hello,

The ground crew, while working on the airfield, would not be wearing a normal uniform, but their fatigue dress (drillich)... These uniforms didn't have piping nor shoulder boards and were whitish-greyish-greenish (something like that).

Jan

[Sal Williams]

Thanks Jan,
I think i have to go with the regular uniforms because they seem to be wearing them but if you could look at the Fokker model thread you will see a pic of them with thier hats and boots on and you could tell me what you think.
best, Sal

[Tony & Kaiser]

The ground crew, while working on the airfield, would not be wearing a normal uniform, but their fatigue dress (drillich)...

In most photos the ground crews of the Flieger Truppen are wearing the
Mannschaft Litewka or work tunic the service crews for the aircraft which appears (?) to be the same working tunic as worn pre-war by the Eisenbahner, called an Arbeits-Kittel. It would make sense that they would wear a black (or very dark blue) tunic to work around engines etc. In the photos they appear to be quite black, but like Jan, I really am not certain, but I believe they are
black.

I collect tunic photos and have a special interest in Flieger Truppen. I
have quite a few photos of Flieger ground crew wearing this tunic, half have
shoulder straps, half do not. Attached is a photo of FEA1, it shows several
types of this work uniform being worn, of the two laying in front, one clearly has a FEA strap and one does not.

Of interest, Mannschaft shoulder straps if they bear a number, indicate
which of the 13 FEA (Flieger-Ersatz-Abtielung) (Flyer Replacement
Detachment) the man came from, not the unit he is serving with. These
Abtielung provided soldiers for the various flying units. Photos often show
soldiers of the same unit, wearing the same unit arm patch, but with
different FEA numbers on their straps. I have about half of these 13 straps, and am still looking for ones with 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 & 13 (shameless plug).

I groan everytime I see an FEA1 strap for sale and the seller proudly
proclaims it is for von Richthofen's Jagdgeschwader 1 when it is actually
one of the thousands of straps of men that came through FEA1. Most photos of men attached with units show them wearing only the prop, no number. This
would be your safest bet, and besides, these are tiny figures, no number is
an option I would take!

<img src=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/flieger/work.jpg>