Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flight Branch Feldwebel NCO Fliegerbluse Uniform Tunic with LBA Marking - Dated 1940

Item DescriptionOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely WWII German Luftwaffe Flight Branch NCO Two PocketFliegerbluse(Flight Blouse) Service Tunic, which features a gorgeous cross-stitched breast eagle. The tunic shows light wear, and is one of the nicer examples we have had, though it has suffered some damage from mothing. It is equipped with a very desirable 'hidden' four bakelite button front closure, all of which are still present and securely attached. There is also a smaller fifth button for if the wearer wanted to close up the front of the collar, as well as a hook and loop fastener. There is even a further strap and two buttons under the collar, should the wearer want to wear it in the 'up' position. The two waist pockets have forward edge curved flaps, secured with pebbled non-magnetic buttons, and can have the flaps folded in for a cleaner look. These looked great in service, with a very streamlined look, and it is a relatively short design, somewhat like an 'Ike' jacket. It was produced in the standardFliegerblau(Flyer's Blue) weave wool, and really looks great.The interior of the tunic features partial blue gray canvas lining and reinforced areas, as is typical of depot issued uniform material. There are two interior chest pockets with button closures on the top, and the left pocket is marked on the top right withL.B.A. (S) 40. This indicates it was inspected at theLuftwaffebekleidungsamt(Air Force Clothing Office) in Sonneberg, Germany in 1938. This marking is only seen on pre and early war Luftwaffe items. Lower on the pocket it has size markings, and possibly a maker mark as well:BRZROCK41 449660 61The tunic is adorned with the usual rank and branch insignia used on German Luftwaffe tunics. The attractive Luftwaffe breast eagle is the correct EM/NCO embroidered type, and is very neatly hand stitched to the chest in a fashion typical of wartime German tailor work. This is a very lovely variant, without any damage to the stitching. The left breast still bears several award loops, making for a great display opportunity.The collar of this officer's tunic has 10mm wide NCOTresseflat silver piping going around the entire collar, correct for an NCOfliegerbluse. The attachedKragenpatten(Collar Flaps) are inGoldgelb(Gold-Yellow), the correctWaffenfarbe(Corps Color) for Aviator troops such as pilots, air crew, and ground personnel, as well asFallschirmjäger(parachute troops). The early sew-in styleSchulterklappen(Shoulder Boards or Epaulettes) have the same color piping, and a single row of 10mm NCO tress around the entire perimeter, with a single rank 'Pips' added, indicating the rank ofFeldwebel(Field Usher), equivalent to a U.S. Army Air Forces Technical Sergeant. This is further supported by the collar insignia, which each correctly show three aluminum 'gull wing' insignia forOberfeldwebel.Condition is very good, showing some light staining and age toning to the fabric, as well as a bit of wear to the fuzzy 'nap'. There is some mothing on the front right of the tunic, as well as a hole about an inch across on the left side just in front of the side seam. A very nice example with a great streamlined look!The Luftwaffe, the air force of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, Luftwaffe troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers had wool trousers and a short jacket with two internal lower pockets, called a Fliegerbluse, as well as a dressier 4-pocket tunic, the Tuchrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the tuxedo-style 'gala' formal wear uniform of the pre-war period, to the plain coveralls worn by crews of anti-aircraft cannons. There were work uniforms, tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage clothing for airborne troops and other Luftwaffe soldiers in ground combat. Flight crews had their own specialized gear, including leather jackets and warm, electrically heated suits. Most but not all Luftwaffe uniform jackets bore the Luftwaffe emblem of a flying eagle holding a swas.Shipping RestrictionsThis product is available for international shipping.Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or GermanyPayment OptionsNot eligible for payment with Paypal or AmazonLegal InformationDue to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.