Battered, But Intriguing, Flight Tunic

[DonC]

I recently picked up a small lot of LW uniforms from a local collector. As we were closing the deal, he pointed to a pretty beat-up Oberleutnant of Flight tunic and offered to throw it in "to get to an even number". The price was right so I said yes. When I got it home, I realized that it at one time had a cuff title on it. More maddening, it has a tailor's name tag that is so washed out I don't see any hope of finding the name. At any rate, sometimes I have a soft spot for the beaters. If I can find a suitably worn cuff title, I plan to restore it.


Enjoy.


Don

[DonC]

More. Anyone know what the single buttonhole flap is for under the collar?

[frank savage]

Bello!

Nice catch! A double undercollar buttonholes would means RK, but single is strange. Any sign of previous sewn under the other side?
Is not clear by the pics: one collar tab is machine sewn and the other by hands?

Best,

[DonC]

Hi Frank -


In the last picture picture immediately above this post you can see a line of stitching that I think probably held the other tab. Both bs are machined on. On LW tunics, I believe the RK was worn under the shirt collar, as in Hartmann's pic below:

[Leroy]

Don - Usually, the buttonhole flap was there so the collar could be worn closed. Is there any sign that there was at one time a button in the same position on the rear of the opposing collar (I couldn't tell from the photos)?

[Renaud]

Don - Usually, the buttonhole flap was there so the collar could be worn closed. Is there any sign that there was at one time a button in the same position on the rear of the opposing collar (I couldn't tell from the photos)?

My guess too

[DonC]

It could have been on that one line of thread in the last pic - it is in the identical spot on the collar as the flap.


Don

[frank savage]

On LW tunics, I believe the RK was worn under the shirt collar

Hi Don, you're right! I'm stupid! I was thinking to the tunic with closed collar, as the army ones and some late war Luftwaffe jacket. My fault, sorry!
Actually that loop on that kind of jacket is strange, really puzzled me...

Don - Usually, the buttonhole flap was there so the collar could be worn closed.

Correct guess, is the same thing I was supposed early. But a collar with that kind of flaps would be hard to close, IMHO.

[J. Hahn]

Nice tunic. It does look like a flap for closing the collar. Here's a photo from one I used to own, showing where I would expect to find the matching button - or signs of it.

[werner]

Right.

[DonC]

I suspect that's what it is for - it just never had the button attached, as far as I can see. Thanks all - one mystery cleared up!


Don

[Leroy]

Nice tunic. It does look like a flap for closing the collar. Here's a photo from one I used to own, showing where I would expect to find the matching button - or signs of it.

Perfect photo.

[Nachrichten]

The Tuchrock has been modified for closure to the neck.

It is not a Waffenrock (as far as I can tell), which is what is depicted in the line drawing taken from Brian Davis book, as it does not appear to have provision for belt support hooks.

N

[DonC]

It is indeed a Tuchrock, privately tailored. Sadly, the owner's name is lost to time unless anyone out there has the forensic ability to read that name tag!


Don