Bill Bourque

Hello Roger and thanks for the information. I can understand the reluctance to examine a piece as such. Here is the website of the museum that has the jacket. http://users.pandora.be/airwareurope/en/start_e.htm This site was provided by Roger. More food for thought. Find a white sleeve button and that would make an absolute identification. I hope some our European experten will make the trip to this museum and further expand our knowledge. Best, Bill

Hello all, Ive been in contact with the provider of the relic jacket pictures, his name is Roger. He will be visiting the owners in the upcoming weeks and he will attempt to get more detailed photos of the jacket and collar areas. Best , Bill

Hello Sandro, sorry but these are the only pics I have. Im trying to get more. Great pics Mike F. Were did you find them? Best, Bill

Pic. Bill

Hello I have an advantage with higher pixel photos. What do you think of these pics of the relic jackets collar area? In the top of the collar is a blueish wooly mass. Slightly suggestive. Best, Bill

Hello all, I think the answer lies in a "hands on" exam of the jacket. One would only need to find a shred of floopy wool collar where it is sown to the jacket body. We all are aware of the tight collar stitching present on all combat uniforms. The body of the jacket is intact. One could search for any stamp or label in those areas. If it were possible and the aircraft/cockpit from which the pilot was exhumed is more or less intact, search for one of the two white glasiene sleeve buttons that became detached by jacket decomposition. I have sent off an email to the fellow that provided the pics. We might be able to arrange an exam by one of our Luft. Experten in Europe. Many excellent photos in this thread. Best, Bill Bourque

Hello, here is photo of Walter Oesau on the occasion of his 100th victory party. Im reasonably certain I have seen an up close photo of him that was taken in color on this occasion. Somewhere, some book has that color picture. Ive looked in Der Adler magazines from around that time and been unsuccessful. It has a pretty good close up of the breast eagle and as I mentioned before the eagle thread appeared very silvery. Or it just maybe poor memory on my part. Bill

Hello Jos, heres another pic and it might be the same pilot/eagle. Bill

Close up of the machine sown breast eagle. Bill

More

GW

Hello all, Im very pleased to be a new member. The Great White, and a Holy Grail to many of us. Here are 4 photos of a GW that was removed from the excavation of a shot down fighter. It is missing the collar and sleeves. It clearly is white and shows some of the inner lining. What is not typical is the breast eagle, blue/gray. I havent as yet found a referance photo showing one as such. Also the wide area of cloth at the base of the front zipper is abit different. I have much higher pixel copies of these if anyone wants. Hard to believe one of these hasnt shown up in the world of collecting. While my memory is hazy I believe I at one time saw a color photo of Oseau showing the GW and it appeared the breast eagle was of a silver officer like thread. That photo was from the occasion of his 100th victory. I look forwards to more Luft flight clothing posts and input from all the Experten on this site. Best, Bill Bourque