Fliegerbluse: Reissue; RAD ??

[Zauberflöte]

Dear all,

Please your attention for this tunic, I'm in a blur of it's precise origin and would appreciate any constructive help.

A brief description: It's a standard LW style Fliegerbluse. All insignia are 100% originally attached, the eagle has been denazified leaving signs of blue underlay which might indicate the tunic was dyed in the current brown colour. Shoulderboards have white Waffenfarbe, also original to the tunic. No signs of any other insignia ever been worn.

The tunic has several rather big period done repairs which are equally worn with the tunic; this and the fact that the tunic has been given a new date ('45!) stamped next to the LBA stamp makes me believe it was a LW tunic reissued to ...yes what?

The collar has a dark brown colour, similar to that of RAD or NSSK, the panzer skull was attached at some point, one is missing but has left marks that indicates it has been there for quit some while.

The 4 award loops are original.

Any related period pictures or suggestions regarding it's use would be welcomed.

Thank you for your attention.
Frederik

[NickG]

Could it be a LUFTWAFFE forestry (Forster) fliegerbluse and the colors are faded?
(from green to brown? + wrong shoulderstraps...easily added?)

If it was dyed, why is the lining still in such a light color?

See examples here; (albeit different material and lacks hip pocket buttons)

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ight=waldbluse




.

[Glenn McInnes]

Looks to me like it was washed in bleach.






Glenn

[Zauberflöte]

Hello Nick,

thank you for your reply. I'm not sure whether the tunic is actually dyed, it has been faded and worn indeed but underneath the flaps you can still see the original brown colour. It has never been green for sure.
The liner indeed has a light tan colour and has never been dyed.

[Johnny R]

IMO It was bleached and dyed for use after to War as a civilian garment? The color was added. Are the threads white or dyed? If the thread is dyed and the insignia bleached as wee than it was dyed with the insingia on there and a postwar idiot is involved rather than a lack of clothing.

[Zauberflöte]

I understand you might come up with that thought, especcially since the pictures aren't very sharp, but both the eagle and chevron (DAK) are absolutely original to the tunic, this rules out civilian use. It's definitely WW2 issue. I was also thinking perhaps some kind of factory guard?

[Johnny R]

Can you post a picture of the eagle and the front as well as an image of the rear stitching of the eagle please.

[Zauberflöte]

Not from where I am at the moment J., but it is original, believe me, machine zig zag stitched, through the liner, threads are white and also the eagle is still white (allthough faded by age and wear of course) but never been dyed. The Tunic has not been bleached, maybe washed at some point.

This is the last picture I have at hand
thanks

[PaulR]

I like it! They do not get much later than that. I am thinking that it could be a late HG tunic? Can you post some closeups of the shoulder straps? Is the waffenfarbe light blue, grey, or dirty white?

[NickG]

OK so forestry is unlikely and dyed civilian also unlikely...This based on all insignia still originally mounted.

What about NSKK transport Regiment Luftwaffe? (or later NSKK Speer related?)
The NSKK wore black dyed fliegerblusen (until 1942) and after that standard blue gray LW fliegerblusen...usually without LW breast eagle but these were sometimes added (also to their head gear even)

Perhaps they also had these fliegerblusen made in NSKK brown with dark brown collar? Just like standard NSKK tunics?
This could also explain the panzer skull ... (NSKK-Lehr-Pzr ) NSKK panzer driving instructor related)?

Just a theory. However the shoulderstraps are obviously not NSKK, nor is the rank chevron...
but later army style insignia was worn by the Speer Regiment NSKK troops...

[Zauberflöte]

yep Nick, your NSKK theory crossed my mind as well as the most likely one

[Glenn McInnes]

The LBA markings are Luftwaffe issue...Odd to see a makers stamp in a 45 dated blouse (that I can recall and perhaps I am incorrect) would expect a RB# for this late date.





Glenn

[Johnny R]

I remain very skeptical about all of it. Look at the fuzz on the strap piping, it has Heer style double stamped 45 as part of the size stamp? Pretty funky monkey.

[J Melvin]

Very odd. He was an awfully well decorated senior private.

[Leroy]

Looks like a tunic with a replaced collar (period?) which was soaked in gasoline to kill lice. I think Jack has a good point about the loops/rank.