There was
a matching cloth belt with open buckle intended for wear with this
uniform, but quite often the leather field belt with Luftwaffe insignia
was worn. I’ve seen a great many pictures where no belt of any sort was
in evidence. There was a black denim overseas style cap intended for wear
with his uniform. I have found no evidence of an M-43 style cap produced
for wear, and naturally the visored dress cap was not worn.. In certain
situations, the regular steel helmet could be worn.
The insignia worn for all ranks was limited to the Luftwaffe eagle
in white or grey on the cap,
but not on the uniform breast. There was no cockade on the cap. Medals and
specialty decorations were not worn. Rank was limited to the normal
lozenge or chevron sleeve insignia on the left sleeve. Collar tabs and
shoulder straps were not worn. NCO ranks wore a single band of tresse down
the front of the collar, and around the base
The tresse was 1 centimeter wide, and light grey in color. In
addition, the sergeant grades had tresse rings around the cuffs of both
sleeves, as follows
-
Feldwebel
– one ring about 4 inches above the cuff.
-
Oberfeldwebel
– 2 rings.
-
Hauptwebel/Oberfeldwebel
– 3 rings
-
Stabsfeldwebel
– 3 rings topped with a lozenge.
Officer ranks
wore the same field sleeve insignia as Fallschermjaeger (paratroops).
[Tresse
was a flat braid type of material, with the Luftwaffe having a different
weave than the Heer or SS.]
This article basically pertains to Luftwaffe ground crew, but this
uniform could also be seen worn by Luftwaffe fire personnel and Luftwaffe
Flak personnel, to include Hitler Youth Flak Helpers and Female Flak
helpers. (Hilferen and Hilferinnen.) In addition to the black denims, I
have pictures of Luftwaffe personnel of Flak units, and other personnel
unloading bombs from trucks, wearing
both one and two piece uniforms made of an off white material. In
this case, they seem to be wearing normal Luftwaffe headgear. I’ve not
seen mechanics wearing this garment.
I hope this summary of Luftwaffe ground crew uniforms may have been
of assistance to those who might be contemplating including mechanics,
fuelers or armorers with their airplane dioramas.
Have
fun,
- Bibliography:
this article was prepared using information found in Vol. 2, Uniforms
and Insignia of the Luftwaffe, 1940-1945, by Brian L. Davis, Publ by
Arms and aaArmour Press, London, UK, 1995
Hal
Marshman Sr
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