My Uncles uniform

[415]

Hi,

I've been trying to some what date this picture of my Uncle Hansi, now by looking at his Fliegerbluse he has no pockets on it. So would it be safe to assume that it's issued prior to May 1940? Correct me if I’m wrong, but after May 1940 did they not add lower pockets to the fliegerbluse? Did they continue to issue pocket less fliegerbluse after May 1940? Is there anything else about his uniform that could date it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[frank savage]

Hi there!

Seems to remember that the pockets was introduced in december 1940 and the eagle appear in october of the same year (Luftwaffen-Verordnungsblatt, 14/10/1940 - Nr. 1290). So, the pic could be taken between middle of october and december of 1940. But the guy could had wear the flieger with these features after these dates. However, the lack of any campaign ribbon or decoration could tell that we're still early of the war...

Cheers!

[DonC]

It could be that "slash" pockets are being obscured by the belt - just a thought - my eyes aren't as good as they used to be!

Don

[415]

Yea the picture I believe was taken while he was still in flying school. I have later pictures of him as unteroffizier with pilot badge. I've been trying to figure out what unit he flew with but I don’t even know what kind of plane he flew.

Also I've looked at the picture really close and I do not see any signs of pockets.

Thanks guys for your help.

Chris

[DonC]

Chris, could you post any additional photos of your uncle? It may be the picture quality, but the tabs seem very dark for flight in the picture posted - I would have guessed Flak just off the top of my head.

Don

[frank savage]

Hi there!

(...) but the tabs seem very dark for flight in the picture posted - I would have guessed Flak just off the top of my head.

The tabs could be yellow and looks darker due the use of orthochromatic film, extensively used at they time, where the warm colors became more dark, such as yellow and red. For this reason sometime the reddish skin of some german make those like colored people, and some yellow flieger tabs looks like pioneer ones!

Hope this help! Cheers!

[frank savage]

Again...

At the sleeve the guy wear the Flight Personnel Insignia. It was worn by Luftwaffe aircrew not rated for the pilots, observers or radio operators. It goes mostly with the yellow tabs...

[415]

Here are the other two pictures I have of him with his pilot badge.

I've been trying to figure out his brothers uniform as well. To me it looks like flak but my Oma said he was in Panzer Division and served in Africa. I don't know if he maybe served with Herman Goring Division then but there's nothing about his fliegerbluse that says he did to me.

Thanks for the assistance guys.

Chris

[Mike Swan]

Great photos!

Just my inexpert opinion, but I reckon the young bloke on the left is either flak or signals.

Mike

[415]

Here's the other picture I have of his brother. They had 3 other brothers but i do not have pictures of them in uniform. I've been trying to figure out his uniform because my Oma said panzer but looks like flak to me, i dont know.

[PaulR]

He could have been in a motorized anti-aircraft unit, which I am sure she could have confused with being with a Panzer unit?

[DonC]

Awesome phoos, and even better with a familial connection! The second one of your uncle is definitely yellow, so I believe Frank is right.

Don

[Willi Z.]

Nice photo!

While in flight school they wore the branch piping they enlisted under. For example my father entered flight school in 1942 wearing the brown piping of a Signal guy. Upon graduation (with an officer school in the mix as well) they became NCOs with golden-yellow piping. If they washed out they would have resumed the branch they enlisted under.

[Jägermarty]

Interesting photo's there, any idea what aircraft your uncle flew?

[415]

Thanks for the help guys. So he might have say enlisted under flak and that upon his completion of pilot school he recieved the yellow collar tabs. Unfortunately i do not know the aircraft he flew. It's something that i've been trying to figure out for a while. I do not have birthdates for him or any of his brothers. All I know is that they all survived the war.

Thanks,

Chris