Gurtzeug

[Hinkle]

Hello,
for some time I have been trying to identify this Gurtzeug. I am not sure whether it is ww2 or luftwaffe - it does not have to be. I would be grateful for any information. Thank you.

[Tony Mickelson]

I think post 1945

It I hard to tell with these pictures. The back pad looks like the German style as compared to the RAF. Looking at references: the Luftwaffe back type parachute (Ruckenfallschirm FL30245) had an aluminum tray which rested against the wearer's back and the cloth portion of the parachute bag containing the parachute fit into the tray. The straps are the similar but in the ww2 Luftwaffe parachute the straps connect to the aluminum tray. Also the straps look like they have green padding which I haven't seen in the WW2 reference books. To determine if it is German, if the quick release buckle is original to the harness, it should say "Gurtzeug Ablegen Drehen Dann Drucken!" and the metal connectors should each have engraved FL with the number following. Of course they should be tags with words in German with the Luftwaffe acceptance marking. You could still use it in a WW2 Luftwaffe Pilot mannequin display, it wouldn't be historically accurate, but it would be similar and look nice. I am far from being an expert, and if you show better pictures of the harness to include the quick release buckle and any markings-the others in the forum will give you a more accurate opinion.

[Tony Mickelson]

Seat not typical Luftwaffe

Just one additional observation, the seat of the harness is not typical of a WW2 Luftwaffe harness looking at pictures in the book Luftwaffe vs RAF (Flying equipment) and other references.