Original Item: Only One Available. Development of protective flight uniforms and equipment began with the advent of military aircraft in WWI and continued on into the Weimar and the Third Reich eras, resulting in three distinct one-piece combination pattern flight suits being approved before WWII and worn for the duration of the war. There were also numerous variations of privately purchased leather flight jackets, often custom made to order.
This lovely leather pilot's flight jacket is in very good condition, showing signs of moderate use during the war. It is a very high quality, German made private purchase, non-regulation, multi-panel chocolate brown leather construction flight jacket, with a lovely shearling lay down collar. It is the standard waist length, and the leather is in very good condition, showing no tearing, holes, or other major wear. We checked inside and out, and there are no maker markings or tags indicating the producer, so we assume this is a bespoke example made by a local tailor.
The jacket features front closure with 5 large brown plastic / bakelite buttons that meet and equal number of reinforced button holes on the liner of the opposite side, which are hidden by the leather shell. There are snaps at both ends of the front closure, which look to be the STOCKO brand, known suppliers to the Luftwaffe, though the top snap is quite corroded. The only pocket on the jacket is a vertical snap closed slash pocket on the left right next to the front closure, which gives the jacket a very streamlined look. The interior is lined with lovely dark blue or black rayon, which shows moderate wear, and there is an adjustment belt inside the liner to give it a tighter fit.
The ends of the sleeves have elastic liner extensions on the interior, and each has a zipper closure, which are both marked by the Elite brand and have their leather tabs still intact. The snap closures are also STOCKO marked on both sides, and both are still functional.
A lovely private purchase German Pilot's Leather Flight jacket. ready to research and display!
Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 20"
Waist width: 20"
Front length: 26.5"
Regulations of July 4TH 1940 and April 24TH 1941 introduced two piece protective flight suits for fighter pilots designed to increase the wearer's mobility and not be as restrictive in the close confines of a cockpit. The two piece flight suits consist of separate jacket and pants and was commonly referred to as the "Kanalanzug", (Channel Uniform).
Officers and certain senior NCO’s were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and were allotted a clothing allowance. Generally speaking officers bought nice quality, private purchase, uniform items but they could also choose to buy their uniforms directly from the military clothing depots. Besides the standard issue flight garments Luftwaffe personnel also utilized a wide variety of private purchase leather jackets in contradiction of regulations. These private purchase jackets appear to have been quite popular as they can be commonly seen in period photographs.
