Luftwaffe Air & Ground Crew 1939–45 by Robert F Stedman

Author:Robert F Stedman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Luftwaffe Air & Ground Crew 1939–45
ISBN: 9781782006855
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Non-issue flight jackets

Jagdflieger were quick to adopt practical items suited to the close confines of the cockpit, a short leather jacket being the preference. Such garments were not issued but generally purchased at individual expense from various sources, and some sub-units or just small groups of friends would acquire matching jackets. Among the most coveted of the home-produced versions was an expensive black leather suit with distinctive zip-fastened slash pockets (see Plate H1). With the occupation of conquered nations countless alternatives were readily available from civilian outlets wherever the pilot was stationed. Differences in cut, fastenings and pockets soon proliferated, with a particular French style among the most popular. The occasionally encountered cloth versions tended to be blue, grey-blue or cream, with wool-knit waistband, collar and (sometimes) cuffs. When fitted with insignia the flight jackets were extremely handsome in appearance – which naturally appealed to the inherent panache of fighter pilots. Although collar patches were rarely added, a few NCOs applied Metallschwingen directly to the collar.

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