Defence of the reich jacket

[werner]

Hello buddies,

I was wondering when were introduced the so called " Defence of the reich " jackets and trousers ?

I'm planning to setup a mannequin with such type of jacket and a brown summer channel trousers. Will it be anachronistic ?
As we can see on period pictures, they are plenty of mismatched set.
So, could it be possible to see such setup for a 1944 spring or summer pilot ?

Thanks
Ron

[Pierre]

Ron,

Everything is always possible with the pilots who could wear everything including a mess dress for a mission but to me having a matching leather set would be more accurate.

Pierre

[werner]

That's for sure.

Here are the items.

[werner]

2.

[Jos L C]

I think it's not too much of a problem, I've seen them with the blue cotton version flightpants and a leather heated jacket, also with breeches and straight wool pants plus the jacket .., another combination I saw was the blue Summer flight jacket with the heavy leather pants, loads of combinations can be found ..

Jos.

[werner]

Thanks mates.

Here is the result.

[RamJet]

I like it. Well done!

[werner]

Thanks

Here are add pictures

Jacket itself


Flight net


Armband compass


Channel trousers


FN10/22 holster


Flight gloves


Flight boots

[JackHun]

Fantastic, Ron! Thanks for showing!

Jack

[Harry]

I see no problem with this combination. I personally think these jackets came in 2 formats:

1. with electrical connections to be worn as part of an electrically heated two-piece combination
2. without electrical circuit, to be worn simply as a jacket, perhaps to address the need for an official issued leather jacket instead of having pilots wearing all-sorts of private purchase types. These would have been worn with any type of pants.

These jackets appear in period photos seen without elec connectors. I have original examples which never had electrics, with no traces of electrics ever having been present or removed.

It was common practice for the collar to be removed, as seen here...a member of JG26. This may have been to make wearing of the lifejacket, with its neck float, less limiting on head movement/vision.

[JG 51]

Great display

[hi-revr]

What a killer pair of boots. Even repro's of those would be expensive.
What pistola is the holster designed for?

[werner]

Thanks Harry for the period picture.
As you can see, my jacket is unheated.

Ron

[werner]

Originally Posted by hi-revr

What a killer pair of boots. Even repro's of those would be expensive.
What pistola is the holster designed for?

The holster is for a Belgian FN10/22 pistol.

[Jos L C]

Nice display ..

Now for the goggles ..

Jos.