oberst pilot tunic

[steiner99]

I would see this tunic like Adam with some big questions.
Of course during the WW2 was much possible but the highest senior officer rank like an Oberst would own a tunic with a much better quality as this EM/NCO cloth.

The second strange point is, the tunic is stamped from 1935 why it is in a such totally unwornd and mint condition?
The boards are with the very rare and latewar ripple cloth and not the typical wool for officers boards. The tunic must be upgraded up to Oberst. That mean is was a used tunic! And yet in a way good condition??

I could be wrong but I have the feeling with this tunc as it was put together from a collector or tailor with Oberst boards and tabs to grow up the value just because of a better profit.
However it's just my feeling!

Cheers,
steiner99

[Tevion]

Thanks for the pics of the stamps.

I also agree to the others.

In my oppinion it is rather uncommon as this is a typical EM / NCO Tunic.

The stampings are possibly from schools of the Luftwaffe.
In Tutow there were "Kampffliegerschulen". (schools for bomber units)

I guess the students in such schools hadn't a very high grade.

And also when he started in a low rank, the step to an Oberst is very big.

But, you never know...!

Can you see shades of other effects like sleeve chevron, other collar tabs, trade patch, eagle or something else?

Best regards,
Lukas

[Jos L C]

I've no clue if this tunic comes with any provenance, but these flight guys could wear anything IMO.
If we only follow Rudel, we can see that he wore almost every jacket that was made, so why not one of his older jackets with a up-grade ?
Then there're fighter pilots with field up-grades all done on their wool jacket, simply done by removing items and adding new items, era pics tell.
So, there's no strick rule that officers should wear the best quality, just because we feel more secure with that etc..
Most did wear their "sunday" outfit, but some didn't.
They had to pay for many of these things, so I can imagine a up-grade of a older lower rank jacket/tunic.
Even certain generals wore EM jackets when in the field.
Just a possible thought.

Jos.

[PaulW]

Eagle

The eagle looks similar in style to this one on a Spiess walking out fliegerbluse I own. There is a further example (from a 2004 thread) if you scroll down this thread:- http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=736443

[DonC]

While it is possible that an Oberst would recycle either his or another's issue tunic, without provenance, I think you have to figure that into both the value of the item and any potential resale. All the questions raised about it are legitimate, IMHO.

Don

[JasonA]

I think that when looking at pieces like this, it's important to reflect upon possibility and likelihood.

On the first point, there are a number of scenarios I can think of where an officer might obtain an issue uniform like this and then have it upgraded for whatever use he had intended it for. As far as how likely any of those scenarios might be, that is for the buyer to decide. Collectors have different levels of comfort with these things and need to make those decisions on their own. Too many make buying decisions based upon the recommendation of others.

There are good points made on both sides here. Certainly an officer wearing an OR/NCO quality/issue piece shouldn't be a deterrent alone.

J-