BACKGROUND: The Reichsluftwaffe, (National Air-{Weapon}, Force), was official established on February 26^TH 1935 as the third branch of service of the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). On March 9^TH 1935 the formation of the new Reichsluftwaffe was announced to the foreign press and on March 16^TH conscription was reintroduced for all three branches of service. On May 21^ST 1935 the Reichsluftwaffe designation was altered to Luftwaffe, (Air-{Weapon}, Force). The Luftwaffe flight blouse, (Fliegerbluse), was originally introduced in early 1935 with the design being based on the 1915 German Imperial Air-Service blouse and the flight blouse as worn earlier by personnel of the, DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe. Although specifically designed for use in aircraft, with no external buttons, or other external fittings that may catch up in the close confines of an aircraft, the designation Fliegerbluse, is somewhat misleading as it was a standard uniform item for personnel serving in all branches of service, not just flight personnel. Originally the flight blouse for Officer’s ranks differed from that for EM/NCO’s ranks with the Officer’s blouse have slightly curved, external, slash, hip pockets while EM/NCO’s blouses had no external pockets. As a result of requests from EM/NCO personnel, regulations of May 6^TH 1940 introduced external, horizontal, slash, hip pockets ,generally with button down flaps although the earlier, pocket-less blouses continued in wear for the duration of the war. Of Note: In 1938 a new pattern tunic, designated, Anzugrock, (Uniform tunic), was developed that was intended to replace the flight blouse but the flight blouses remained in service through-out the war with minor modifications. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase uniform items of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive. The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, on August 18^TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1^ST 1935. The original first pattern national eagle was utilized until a, slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations dictated that the national eagle was to be worn on the right breast of almost all uniforms with a few minor exceptions. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with light brown being chosen for personnel serving with Nachrichtentruppen, (Signals Troops), units which was generally displayed as collar piping for EM/NCO’s, (discontinued in March 1940), on the collar tabs and as piping on the shoulder strap/boards of the flight blouse.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool/rayon blend construction flight blouse with a subtly ribbed, whipcord weave, features a vertical, four button, French fly, front closure with the buttons on the right front panel and small vertical slashes and corresponding, hidden button eyelets on the left front panel, small, fold back, lapels and a lay down collar. The right breast has a nice quality, hand embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted swastika in one talon, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver/aluminum bullion accent threads on a cut-out, blue/grey, wool base. The eagle is handstitched to the tunic. The left breast has three, vertical, and two horizontal, thread loops for wear of awards and a medal or ribbon bar. The flight blouse has two, curved, slash, front, hip pockets. The flight blouse has, straight cut, non-adjustable sleeves. It appears that the standard small, vertical slashes to the outside cuff seams have been handstitched closed. The reverse of the right sleeve has a large, professional done, machine stitched, patch repair in a slightly different shade of Luftwaffe blue/grey wool/ rayon material with a subtly ribbed, whipcord weave. The flight blouse has sewn on shoulder boards in bright, silver/aluminum Russia braid, mounted on light brown wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board retaining buttons are intact. The forward edge of the lay down collar is trimmed in twisted, bright, silver/aluminum cord. The collar has light brown wool collar tabs with a single, hand embroidered, rank "gull" and an opened top, half, oak-leaf wreath all in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads. The collar tabs are piped in fine, twisted, bright, silver/aluminum cord and are neatly hand stitched to the collar. The interior of the flight blouse is fully lined in ribbed, blue/grey rayon with, tan striped, off-white rayon sleeve lining. The lining features a horizontal slash, pocket to the left breast panel, a small, vertical, rayon strap, stitched to the left armpit that secures a nickel/silver plated, steel, "D" ring, designed to attach the dagger/sword hangers. The lining also has a machine stitched, two piece, horizontal, ribbed, blue/grey rayon, belt strap to each side, positioned at the waistline, with a nickel/silver plated, steel, gripper buckle. The nape of the neck has a tan rayon tailor’s label machine stitched in place with the machine woven, tailor’s logo and name and address, "Stenzel Greifswald", in silvery/grey rayon threads. The flight blouse has no visible size markings. The flight blouse is in overall fairly good condition with light to moderate chafe wear to the cuff, pocket and collar edges, about a dozen and a half, small rips and tears, some of which appear to have been post-war repaired and light age and usage toning. The shoulder board buttons are the bright, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal type while the balance of the buttons are the molded, tan bakelite type and most appear to have their original stitching. The flight blouse is roughly a size 38", (96.5cm), chest. Seldom encountered Officer’s flight blouse.