Sprocket

He is coming over to West Virginia for a family reunion... I think his two sisters live here in the U.S. Then he's going to Washington, D.C. He'll be here the first part of August but I don't have exact dates yet. I wouldn't expect it to be on his website since it is a personal trip. Bob

Peter Spoden will be here in the States next week so I hope to go up and meet with him again. He has written his own book... http://www.nachtjaegerspoden.de/index.html Check out his website. Bob

When I got into collecting aviation prints, Gunther Rall was one of the first aces that I met. Since then I've met quite a few: Adolf Galland, Walter Krupinski, Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Heinz Lange, Hajo Herrmann, Viktor Petermann, Drewes, Zorner, Gunther Bahr, Karl Johanssen, Peter Spoden, and many more. Great guys and great stories. Bob

Berlin Tailor's Label

Shoulder board

Sleeve eagle

Here are some detail photos of the SS-Obersturmfuhrer of Sanitatsdienst tunic... enjoy! Bob

More than likely a walk out dress uniform that was left at home for furloughs or for such a time that he might be assigned to staff duty and require a nicer tunic. Willi has a SS-Obersturmfuhrer of Sanitatsdienst tunic too. It is a lightweight M1937 styled (SS) with the open collar made of the same material as the rest of the tunic and is piped in silver twist cord. It has twin upper pleated pockets with scalloped flaps, a four-button front, twin slash lower pockets and French cuffs. It has the standard officer collar tabs, silver bullion sleeve eagle, sewn in SS shoulder boards with black underlay, dark-blue waffenfarben, single gilt metal pip and the gilt metal caduseus ciphers. It has a WMC 2nd Class ribbon in the buttonhole. Tailor made in Berlin.

One of the shoulder boards:

Here is the silver bullion sleeve eagle:

And this is me standing next to it... Bob (wish I had it in my collection)

No. Belongs to my friend Willi Schumacher. Here is another photo with him standing next to it. Bob

Personally I like the shoulder boards better when they're still attached to the tunic. Here is a spectacular SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of Veterinar tunic from the Deutschland Regiment. It has Army-styled sewn in shoulder boards with single gilt pips and the gilt snake cipher. Bob

Here is another shot looking from the left end of the display table... Bob

Here is Willi Schumacher's exhibit last year at the Nation's Militaria & Arms Show in Chantilly, Virginia. There are four super nice TOTENKOPF tunics with some super headgear. Bob

Here are Bill Shea's photos of the SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer black panzer jacket from the Das Reich Division. Only about 4 months away now... I'll be going to the Nation's Military & Arms Show in Chantilly, Virginia in October and will display this with a couple of other panzer and assault gun jackets at Willi Schumacher's table. He had a great display last year with 4 Totenkopf tunics! If you really like Totenkopf uniforms, you should have been there to see that exhibit. WOW! Bob

This jacket came with the trousers and this black panzer overseas cap with the pink soutache, the cockade on a green backing (early) and a safety pin inside to keep the top closed. This entire grouping belonged to the same man (based on sizes). Bob

Or it could be worn with the black panzer jacket... Bob

Your cap would go great with a tunic like this one. I already have the cap. Yours is nice too. Bob

No Fear! Bob

It'll be awhile. I have another black panzer jacket that I have to finish up on before I even start paying on this one... the other is an SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer from the Das Reich Division. Bob

And here is a ribbon bar with two long service ribbons, one with the 4-Year SS Long Service device, which by the way is upside down if worn in this direction. Is this the correct way to wear this; with the long service ribbons first? If the other way, then the small SS device is on correctly. Bob

Here is an interesting ribbon bar that came with the matching medal bar and has the 25-Year Police Long Service Medal, as well as the Olympics Medal, Third Class. Bob

I have one of him being awarded this Knight's Cross and it is signed by him. One of 8 E-Boat Badge with Diamonds winners I believe. Bob

Congratulations Gordon... good stuff shows up at the least likely places at times! Bob