BGS Flight Jacket

[SprogCollector]

Thanks to a tip from fellow forum member CollectingSteve I was able to pick up a green BGS leather flight a few weeks ago. Overall condition is very good but the thing smells terrible -- stale cigarettes and who know what else! It's outside airing out for a few days following a heavy dose of Fabreeze.

It's had shoulderboards sewn down at some point. I don't know if these had loops at the shoulders normally? No signs of any other badging besides a wing on the right breast.

It has a Harro label but no BGS markings of any kind. I was somewhat expecting to see a typical BGS/BW style label somewhere on it.

Compared to a BW leather flight jacket, they are substantially different despite sharing a similar overall look. The leather is thinner and smooth. Likewise the knits are much smoother -- without the pronounced rib-knit pattern of the BW jacket.

It has a button in brown velveton-like removable liner -- a definite plus as the BW jackets aren't very warm.

There is no breast pocket -- two zip-closed hardwarmer pockets are provided instead. The sleeve pocket appears the same as on the BW jacket.

At this point, I'm trying to determine if this was a privately purchased jacket; is a non-BGS/Polizei civilian jacket; or is simply a BGS item that never had a "Bund" or BGS tag on it?

[SprogCollector]

I did a check of some of my reference photos and it looks like at least a few of the leather BGS jackets are definitely Harro jackets -- the zip puller is pretty unique looking.

Here's a comparison shot of the BGS alongside my friends BW jacket. These were shot in Holland -- I needed an intermediary to buy the jacket for me. Seller wouldn't ship outside the EU.

Better pics after the jacket airs out.

[SprogCollector]

Here are some comparison shots with my Luftwaffe jacket.

The BGS jacket does appear to have some traces of a label once being present just below the collar -- faint outline of stitching.

The white label is sewn within the lining of the interior left breast pocket. Unfortunately, I doesn't provide any clues as to the age of the jacket.

[Guardian 5]

SprogCollector - Nice looking jacket; I haven't seen many of these. I love the side by side shots with the Luftwaffe jacket.

Do you know what you need to badge up the BGS jacket? Are you going to?

All the best - TJ

[SprogCollector]

Hi TJ,
It looks like the only badging this particular jacket ever had were shoulderboards and a wing over the right breast (stitch holes clearly visible). I actually need to check with Steve to see what the shoulderboard attachments are supposed to look like. I suspect there were loops at the shoulders and some type of sewn-on square which allowed the button-end of the boards to attach to the jacket. Pure speculation on my part since these pieces are missing.

I'll definitely replace the wing. I just need to research a little to see what type was used -- woven, embroidered, etc. I've seen gold ones around but I think these are Polizei, not BGS?? These are pics you posted a while back but are listed as GSG-9 wings:


No traces of the BGS arm eagle or arc.

This was supposed to be my new wearable jacket which addresses the lack of handwarmer pockets on the grey jacket! Looks like another restoration project!

Chris

[Collectinsteve]

Thanks for the great pics!! Glad you managed to land it. Always nice to see a good piece go to a good home.

Here are pics of my jacket and observations:





Mine had no arm badging or wings. It's impossible to remove such things from a leather jacket without leaving very visible stitch holes. Which means mine never had them at all.

Unfortunately mine has no way of dating it either.

Shoulder rank for BGS is pretty straight forward. It is held down by a sewn on button near the lapel and a small loop near the shoulder seam. Just like the camouflage jackets. You should be able to see evidence of the buttons having been there if you look close enough. If you can see no signs then I would be suspicious there was no rank on it. But I don't know how to explain the small holes by the shoulder seam, therefore I'm guessing you will see signs. Look on both the exterior and interior (sometimes they were sewn through liners, sometimes not).

Steve