Question Re LW Leather Flight Jackets

[stonemint]

LW Experten:

As I understand it, only one leather flight jacket was issued by the LW, and that is the black one with the velvet collar?

I am referring to this style:

[stonemint]

I have a few questions:

Was this jacket issued thru the LVA, and do they have LVA markings?

What is the collector term for these--late-war jacket; M-44, or what?

Was the color of the collar always that purple velvet, or was actual sheepskin or some other fur used?

Were they all electrically heated originally?

Just trying to figure them out, thanks.

[NickG]

Never LVA marked...Sometimes these are referred to as "Reichsverteidigungs" jackets because they're 44-45 period and do come with electrical heating connections. I used to own one... Collar color can very from a purplish-blue hew to green (synthetic).
Colors: these come in dark gray or dark brown. Never seen one in black.

[frank savage]

Hi there!

- The jackets, as stated, doesn't came thru LVA nor doesn't carried LVA marking.

- It is always described as 'heated leather jacket', or, that's true, 'Reichsverteidigungs' - defence of the Reich - due its use in the late of war, when the luftwaffe role was mostly in defence status.

- The color of the collar goes from the purple to the dark blue ones, in relation to the aging, washing and so on... The jacket is lined with 'normal' silk cloth, that could be dark blue, hbt brown or 'shiny' blue gray (as you can see in some middle/late war fliegerbluse), but never with fur. The color of the leather could be brown, different shade of gray, also very dark ones ... not black, but close to it!

-Not all these issue jacket was elecrically born. Some of that was made without any wiring sistem.

Hope this help!

Cheers!

[Mike Davis]

Originally Posted by frank savage

The color of the leather could be brown, different shade of gray, also very dark ones ... not black, but close to it!

Yes, and as Frank wrote, definitely in grey leather.

I also think it possible that the jackets may have been produced in dark blue leather as I have had a couple of dark blue leather Kanalhosen in this color and so it just seems to reason there may have been a matching jacket. Have never seen one though...

[Paul Woodbyrne]

I did see one in blue a few years back,but had electrics removed. I have a grey one, belonged to an officer. Regimentals have one for sale with damage to the edge of the collar. regards Paul.

[frank savage]

Hi Mike!

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

Yes, and as Frank wrote, definitely in grey leather.

I also think it possible that the jackets may have been produced in dark blue leather as I have had a couple of dark blue leather Kanalhosen in this color and so it just seems to reason there may have been a matching jacket. Have never seen one though...

I have never seen in dark blue... But maybe is a blueish shade of the gray ones... Could be great see a pic of those, but I think could be difficult, if wrote 'have had'... However your grey one is the beautyfull I ever seen!

Happy Easter!

[Jos L C]

Couple of years ago I had the chance to buy a nice black set, but it was offered by a investor, so you can imagine the price ..
Even after he dropped the price with 2000 e , the price still was insane.

Think another dark set has been sold on E-stand, maybe 1 or 2 years ago.

I think the grey ones can be found in different shades, the darker ones looking like dark blue.

Here's a jacket of a "black"set I've on file.
You can see some brown peeping through, but the leather parts inside are real black.

Jos.

[pablo10]

GERMAN LUFTWAFFE LEATHER FLYING JACKET.
During the course of WWII there were only two versions of an officially issued Luftwaffe leather flying jacket and these were both originally the upper parts of leather two piece suits, there is dark brown version with the blue velveteen colour, there is also the even rarer light grey version with also a blue velveteen collar. All of the other German Luftwaffe leather flying jackets seen worn are privately purchased either French or German motorcycle jackets with the addition of Luftwaffe insignia in some cases and because many of these old motorcycle jackets are still available and have been available for many years on the open market it can always be questioned as to whether the jacket in question was originally worn by a member of the Luftwaffe or not.
Basic construction is fly fronted six button jacket with upper map pocket to the left hand breast as the jacket is worn. Leather collar which has a purple hue velveteen collar. Each sleeve has the plastic riri zips fitted. There is an internal waist cord that can be loosened or tightened as to the wearers comfort. These suits were only issued in electrified heated form and it is very rare to find any jacket that still has the electrical connections and fittings all intact as this jacket does. The majority of the jackets we have encountered have had these fittings removed for wearing as a civilian jacket in the post war period. The base of each sleeve has an elasticated windproof cuff.
At the base of each sleeve there is also an extra leather closing tab which is buttoned on the other side of the zip.
when these Luftwaffe flying suits were issued there was never an official order that insignia should be fitted and it was obviously left up to the discretion of the wearer(s)
got this from the regements-thanks to them,
cheers-pablo
n.b i have one of these but the collar is cut off as was done by some pilots...

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Everything said is accurate. Leaves me to say only one thing: I am looking for this type of jacket. So if you have one that you want to part with please let me know.

[hs132]

Hello, there are two other issued leather type pilot jackets. The blue and the white suede sheepskin types. The white typically from Bulgarian makers and the blue from Germany. Both with fur collars. Both with front map pockets and O2 mask straps. Best, Bill

[stonemint]

Thanks for the answers, all. So the Me-262 pilots in the pic above are wearing a very dark gray or very dark brown version?

[Gene]

Yes

[frank savage]

Hi, Stonemint!

Originally Posted by stonemint

Thanks for the answers, all. So the Me-262 pilots in the pic above are wearing a very dark gray or very dark brown version?

Really difficult to say... Maybe brown ones.. or a mix up of jacket. The lighter ones could be grey leather and the darker brown.. who knows?

Here's mine:

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t=61129&page=6

post# 1517

Cheers!