Blue Web Quest and My Tale of Friends

[J Melvin]

I've worked for a few years now to try to put together a complete set of Luftwaffe blue web gear. I've got all the pieces except for a dark blue set of heavyweight y straps now. But, for those that haven't seen them, here's a shot of each. Without the contacts that I've made over the years through this board, the BCN and in shows, there is no way that I would have come up with the items that I have right now. This is the first piece that I got: the blue web frog. It came courtesy of ebay and a contact in the BCN. The fellow that was winning the bid on it was bidding on a lot of 4 web frogs. This was one of them. A friend in the BCN knew the bidder and suggested that I contact him since he already had a blue web frog. So, I did, he won the auction, and I got the blue web frog. It is unmarked and undated.

[J Melvin]

The second piece that I got, I found on my own. The blue web belt from Regimentals. The belt and its tab are entirely web. The tab on the buckle is leather. I would like to find a blue web tabbed buckle to finish off the set.

[J Melvin]

The third piece and the one that caused me the most wrangling over it was this one: the blue web A frame. It was found by a friend at a show in Nashville. He had gotten there the day before me and proceeded to bury it in the seller's pile of cases so that it wasn't out in open display. I really didn't have the money to buy it right then. But my friend, who is a dealer, knowing that I wanted it, worked out a deal with the seller on some trade items and kept it for me til I could pay him for it. This one is '42 dated and marked for manufacture in Wien.

[J Melvin]

Ok, I had the A frame, now I needed the bag. It literally walked into a reenactment event that I was at. A fellow reenactor brought it up to a dealer at the event and offered it in trade for some reenactment gear. The dealer, knowing that I'll jump on anything Luft, knew he had a winner. He swapped the fellow out of it. When I walked up to his table, he said "I've got something for you" and literally pulled it out from under his shirt. I was ecstatic. On top of all of it, it is dated the same date (42) as the A frame.

[J Melvin]

My last post on it. I know where a set of the heavyweights are. I am simply waiting for the owner (again a friend that I met through the hobby) to decide they no longer fit his collecting niche. Then, I think, they will be mine and the set will be complete. But, until then, I will keep looking. But, it is just to say that it is through these forums that we meet our contacts and friends that can make our hobby so fulfilling. That's why I am here and I count many of you as my friends.

[Willi Z.]

Nice stuff Jack! The a-frame and bag are great.

Here is the buckle you need. My frog is very lightly marked and dated on the back in white....'41. I have the belt too. The heavy straps sound superb! The only ones I have ever seen turned out to have been made from Luft web ruck straps.

Willi

[Del Panfini]

Blue web quest and my tale of frinds

Nice blue tropical gear Jack and Willi. You don't see any for sale at least I don't. Was it used by the paratroopers and luft ground forces? What is the price difference between the khaki and the blue tropical frog? Thanks, DEL

[J Melvin]

Del, I've heard different stories on when issued. Some, including me, think that it is fairly early issue. Others, including Bill Shea (I've heard anyways), think late. The belt is early, the A frame and bag are fairly early. It all seems to be around '41 or '42 that it started appearing.

I don't know what a good price for a tropical frog is. But, the blue web ran right at $300. I was glad to get it (even at that price).

[Willi Z.]

I think the blue web stuff is very early. It all matches the early Luft trop stuff in blue cotton. The blue web tab buckles are either '41 or '42 dated. I believe the Luftwaffe developed this stuff at the same time they developed the tan tropical uniforms/gear. The Luftwaffe ultimately went with the tan stuff, which is why you seldom encounter the blue webbing and cotton uniforms. Not sure Bill would think they are early. I know some might think, since alot of web gear showed up late as a replacement for leather, that this is late. But, if you study the buckles, frogs, etc, you will note early style construction.

Willi

[Jos L C]

Great stuff !
Anyone of you ever seen a Luftsoldier all dressed up in blue ?
I think these pics are very rare,although it's hard to see on black & white pics.
I've seen color pictures of pilots wearing the blue HBT or cotton jacket and trousers but no gear....

Jos.