Paul R

It is very unusual in that the ranking devices do not match the shoulder boards. I have some theories on it. One of them being that this was the uniform he kept at home for use while on leave. It seems to have been in the process of upgrading after a promotion, which was never completed. I have a personal uniform in my closet with the same situation. I never seem to have the time to upgrade my ranking patches! Chris, If you still have the tunic, I would request some closer photos of the insignia and the area where the obergrefeiter chevrons were applied.

Badges The two most commonly seen qualification badges that might be seen on a Flak tunic are: 1. Flak badge- awarded by reaching a certain number of points by shooting down aircraft or being wounded. 2. Ground Combat Badge- Direct ground combat.

Trade Badges Here are some examples of some of the Flak and ordnance related trade badges which would have been worn by NCOs and Enlisted members within the Flak/Artillery units. There are more possibilities. Upper Left- Ordnance specialist Upper Right- Flak crewmember Lower Left- Armorer Lower Right- Armorer to HG unit.

Shoulder boards. Here are some examples from my collection. As you can see, some of the straps have numeral cyphers for a regiment number. The Flak/Artillery branch was the only area in the Luftwaffe who had regiments, so you will never see numeral cyphers on any other LW strap or board. Some other cyphers you could see are: "F"- Attached to Fortress Units. "L"- Attached to a Flak Instruction Unit Roman Numerals "I-IV"- Flak Staff, High command "FAS"- Flak Artillery School "W"- Ordnance Officers/Armorers "WS" Weapons/Flak and Ordnance Schools "RL"- Members attached to Reich Air Protection School

Special Collar tabs, Hermann Goering and Field Division units. The Hermann Goering units used the white waffenfarbe as a basic branch color/waffenfarbe. Until Mar1943, artillery and flak were noted by a bright red piping around the white tab as seen below. Starting on 01Apr1943, the outer piping on the collar tabs was abolished leaving a plain white tab. Branch color was to be worn on the shoulder board piping only. Below is an example of a Regiment Hermann Goering tab for an artillery Unteroffizier. The tab is configured for use on an overcoat, as can be noted by the presence of the tress on the tab. A similar set of regulations applied to the Luftwaffe Field Divisions. All members assigned to the LW Field Divisions wore tabs with the rifle green branch color. The waffenfarbe was worn as an outer piping to the tab AND the shoulder board at the same time. Please see the image below. The outer piping was to be bright red. This applied to Artillery Regiments, Flak Battalions, and Tank Destroyer Battalions. More details of the Hermann Goering units are to be found here: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18342 More details on the Luftwaffe Field Divisions can be found here: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=17457

Collar tabs The first tray consists of the basic Flak collar insignia. The Officer tabs with the blue secondary piping are Reserve Flak Officers.

Uniforms Men of the Luftwaffe Flak service wore the standard issue of Luftwaffe uniforms. Here is a Flak fliegerbluse to an Obergrefeiter.

Hi Snoopy, The trade badges were used, per my references, NCOs and lower ranks. Here is the latest addition to the Signals thread. A single Hermann Goring Division Jan-Mar1943 collar tab for signals.

Here is a very nice selection of collar tabs from the collection of Jerry B. Notice the ultra rare Fj tabs on the Overcoat collar!!!

Eric, The badge is very appropriate to the thread!!! There was that small Fj battalion with the Gen Goering Reg. They wore the very rare white tabs with yellow piping, as authorized in 1937!!! Here is another tidbit I have just traded for... A single unissued Jan-Mar43 tab for signals.

Those parade helmets are really something. I would love to have one for the Band Officer uniform someday! I have never handled one. How much do you think it weighs?

That is a great tunic Chris. Do you still have it?

I have not seen another WW2 title constructed in that manner. Did it come from the vet? Very unique item Chris!

Those are some of the nicest I have seen!!

Your tunic collection is pure quality!! The first LW flak EM is top shelf! It looks to be unissued! Are the straps the 1944 pattern? I find the Volunteer Firefighter uniforms to be very attractive! I have never seen a Firefighter Driver's insignia before! Paul

You will have to show us, Chris. I have only one at the moment.

I am such an idiot!! I cannot believe that I missed that photo Thank Ed!

Thanks Kevin and Gordon!! I have learned a lot from this thread! I am surprised that he did not receive the Soviet Hero Title. I was not able to find his total listing of his medals. I bet that he had an impressive array!

Is that the photo you mentioned? What were your thoughts on his collar tabs and boards, as seen in the video?

Great stuff!!! Thank you Kevin! Did he have special insignia?

Where do you guys find all of these great photos? Great stuff! I love that top photo. The Oberstleutnant on the left has a nice Kreta cuff title!!

Hi, I was watching a version of the DDR National Anthem and noticed something odd... There was a photo at the 2min 25sec point, of an East German Astronaut with DARK blue or black Air Force style tabs and boards! Could there be DDR insignia specifically for space explorers? They are either black or Navy Blue in color, when compared to a medal he is wearing, which truly has a light blue ribbon!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnrkBDkHJwQ Please let me know what you think! Regards Paul

That is a really great grouping!! Congratulations on rescuing it!

I have nothing to add other than to compliment your beautiful photo. Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is it signed?

I agree!! The ultimate WW1-2 Non Combatant bar!! To think that it is one of 13000!!!