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Everything posted by Paul R
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Hi Snoopy! From what I see, I like! I would like even closer photos yet from these, I cannot find anything wrong. I would have to see many better photos or hold the tunic to be certain. The other personnel who used the Black waffenfarbe were: 1. Construction 2. Reich Air Ministry 3. LW members assigned to Luftschutz units (LS cyphers on the shoulder straps). Great stuff!!! You mentioned other LW tunics? Lets see them!
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The Air Defense tunic should not only have Enlisted boards, but they should be piped in gray instead of lt blue. Nice tunics!
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A Few "Indian" Medals
Paul R replied to leigh kitchen's topic in Great Britain: Orders, Gallantry, Campaign Medals
That is a great medal, Leigh... looks very "untampered" and pristine! -
Luftwaffe LW setups
Paul R replied to François SAEZ's topic in Germany: Third Reich: Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Equipment
Your displays are second to none! The brocade is beautiful and appears to be unused! -
Shoulder Insignia: The shoulder cords were very irregular when compared to the regular Luftwaffe(please see below descriptions). By order, these boards were not to have specialty piping nor any underlay. This rule was frequently broken though. Lower Career Level Oberfeldwebel- Blueish Dark green with 1 aluminum embroidered slider for the cord. Hauptfeldwebel- Blueish Dark green with 2 aluminum embroidered sliders for the cord. Middle Career Level Oberfeldwebel- Braided dark green cord with 1mm center aluminum cord with 2 aluminum embroidered sliders for the cord. Leutnant- Aluminum Flat cord, bent to form a loop. Both ends meet at the base. The ends are sewn into the sleeve seam. No Sliders for the cord. Elevated Career Level Oberleutnant- Aluminum Flat cord, bent to form a loop. Both ends meet at the base. The ends are sewn into the sleeve seam. 1 Yellow slider for the cord. Hauptmann- Aluminum Flat cord, bent to form a loop. Both ends meet at the base. The ends are sewn into the sleeve seam. 2 Yellow sliders for the cord. High Grade Career Level Hauptmann- Aluminum Flat cord, bent to form a loop. Both ends meet at the base. The ends are sewn into the sleeve seam. 2 Yellow sliders for the cord. Major- Braided aluminum cord with 8-11 lateral bends and two bends at the base. No Sliders. Oberstleutnant- Braided aluminum cord with 8-11 lateral bends and two bends at the base. 1 yellow slider. Oberst- Braided aluminum cord with 8-11 lateral bends and two bends at the base. 2 yellow Sliders. Here is my Oberfeldwebel example from the tunic seen above. Notice the twisted cord with the silver center strip, indicative of an NCO in the Middle Career Level. Also see the NCO cord for a Lower Career Level Official, which is ranked for an Oberfeldwebel.
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Now we will get into the insignia. Collar tabs: Per my references(Davis, Angolia, and Bender), there were two mentioned Waffenfarben: Administrative/Specialists- Dark Green Engineering Specialists- Pink The collar insignia are very similar to those used by the Luftwaffe proper. The difference being that the gulls denoting rank are omitted. The use of the wreath is the same as with the basic Luftwaffe tabs, for officers.(full and half wreath). The exact ranking of the official was specified by the type of shoulder cord and the number of sliders on the cord. As with the Administrative tabs(which we will get into in a future article), there were four career levels based upon education and experience. The level was noted by the type of piping around the collar tabs. Lower Career Level No piping(and no wreath... simply a plain dark green tab)- Feldwebel/Oberfeldwebel- Grade school education without further education/qualification was required. Medium Career Level Green/Silver Piping(was blue silver until Nov1940)- Oberfeldwebel/Oberleutnant- High School Diploma and an apprenticeship of a trade was required. Elevated Career Level Silver piping- - Leutnant-Oberstleutnant- Educational level between High School and College, with an addition two-three years of practical training required. Highest Grade Career Gold piping- University degree is required. As a side note, the Corps Engineering Officials started on 15Jan43, the Wartime Members of the Corps of Engineers wore the same uniforms as those used by the Corps of Engineers. The insignia differed as stated below: Tabs- Rose pink, as the Corps of Engineer tabs. Ranking consisted of the embroidered wreath only. No propellers or gulls were used. The exact ranking was noted on the shoulder cord. As you can see, there is a single present of a yellow Wartime Official tab. This is for a member of the Luftwaffe Fire Service member brought into the regular Luftwaffe with a soldier's status(job stayed the same, the status was more of a legality).
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Now we will get into the uniform requirements... The prescribed uniform was the same as that of the regular Luftwaffe. The main difference being noticed in the collar tabs and shoulder cords. Of a special note, Wartime officials assigned to the Reich Air Ministry were required to wear civilian clothes while on the job. Here is a uniform from my personal collection. It is a tuchrock for a Feldwebel of the Medium Career Level. I will get into more detail on the insignia shortly.
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Luftwaffe LW setups
Paul R replied to François SAEZ's topic in Germany: Third Reich: Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Equipment
Can you please post some closeups of the sword? I have never seen a scabbard with that shade of blue! Paul -
DDR A pleasant surprise
Paul R replied to Ed_Haynes's topic in Germany: Post 1945: Bundesrepublik & DDR
The "collecting gods" were definitely smiling upon you!!! -
DDR Officer of Prison Guards Uniform
Paul R replied to Coinguy89's topic in Germany: Post 1945: Bundesrepublik & DDR
That is a great set!! Thank you for sharing it with us. I do have a set for the Correctional Officer, as well. I have never attempted to repair a visor, nor would I recommend trying. The material appears to be torn to me. For me, I would not find this to be distracting. -
DDR Zivilverteidigung (Civil Defense)
Paul R replied to Hauptmann's topic in Germany: Post 1945: Bundesrepublik & DDR
Another Stellar grouping, ED! -
Luftwaffe LW setups
Paul R replied to François SAEZ's topic in Germany: Third Reich: Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Equipment
Very clean example of the summer tunic!!! -
Viet Cong Man Pajamas - Vet Pickup Yesterday
Paul R replied to Colorado's topic in South East & East Asia
I have never seen a bona fide set before!! Nice pick-up!