Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots and Aces:
The German Fighters of WWII, The Bf-109, Fw-190, Me-110 and the Me-262:
Hauptmann, Summer White Uniform:
The Uniform's Background Luftwaffe Summer White Uniform - Hauptmann Prior to the advent of the practical khaki uniform the Luftwaffe officers sought relief from the heat by wearing a summer uniform jacket and cap made of white cotton. This Hauptmann is just such an example of what one looks like with use in the field.
Quickly stained and dirtied the white tunic was clearly not a working uniform. However, it was a sharp one. This captain has seen action starting in the competition in the 1936 Olympic Games in equestrian events shown by the 36 Games ribbon on the bar and the Horsemanship Proficiency Badge on the pocket. Next, he saw action, perhaps as an aircraft ferry pilot in Spain, followed by the campaign in Krete and then theater duty on the African front.
A fighter pilot he has flown enough combat missions to be awarded the clasp in gold. And though not a famous pilot, I have him with the Ritterkreuz at his throat in several of the pictures as well, which seems appropriate. With this uniform, he wears a white-topped Luftwaffe crusher-style cap standard breeches, & riding boots, or white trousers with black shoes, belts were no worn with the uniform.
2nd Lieutenant, 1940, Prior-Condor Fighter Pilot:
Wearing a White Summer Dress jacket, with a feldblau Scharmmytz. He holds the Nationalist Spain, “Al Merito en Campana” Badge, the Spanish Campaign Commemorative with Swords ribbon, the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class, the Spanish Cross in Gold, the Day Fighter Clasp in Bronze, and the Pilot / Observer Badge.
Ritterkreuztrager, Ace Pilot, Walter Oesau:
Walter “Gulle” Oesau (28 June 1913 to11 May 1944) was a German WWII Fighter Ace that served with the Luftwaffe from 1934 till his death in 1944. He rose to Command Jagdgeschwader !, which was named in his honor apron his death.
He had served with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, with 3 Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 (3./J88), he claimed 8 aircraft during the campaign and learned skills that would come in later. He was one of only 28 who earned the award of the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds (Spainen-Kreuz in Gold mit Schwertwrn und Brillianten).
At the start of WWII, Oesau was given command of 2, Staffel, Geschwader 20. The Group was moved to the Eastern Front at the start of the invasion of Poland but moved back to the Western Front later as the redesignated III Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51 (III./JG 51). After his first victory in WWII ln the Battle of France, Oesau operated on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, where he was wounded and received the Silver Wound Badge.
He returned to operations as Geschwaderkommadore of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1). He was killed in action on 11 May 1944 aged 30. JG 1 was given the Suffix “Oesau” in his honor. Oesau wore a white linen Fligerjacket, that made an appearance around 1941, in various forms both lined and unlined.
By 1943 this type of jacket was pretty common, and often worn with Kanalhose, however, no pictures have been found of the white jackets with them. The shoulder insignia has the major’s rank. with the Yellow Waffenfarben. The Luftwaffe national symbol is executed in bullion on white backing.
The leather loops on the chest retain the lines from the flight helmet. Complete with Feldblau breeches, flight boots, and often a white shirt along with a standard Schirmmutz.
Luftwaffe Officers White Shirt:
And since there are several officers to have been known to wear a white shirt with their uniforms at times, there is a shirt in the collection, here as seen with the prior jacket. maybe this is a better shot, for reference.
Major, Jagdgeschwader ‘Mölders’ Abendgesellschaftsanzuge der Luftwaffe:
Der Abendgesellschaftsanzuge or Evening Dress Jacket was the most formal attire worn by Luftwaffe officers, They were introduced in April 1935, the jacket was worn over a stiff white shirt, a tie, and a vest along with tressed dress trousers. By the early 1940s, as the Luftwaffe pilots became decorated veterans of the skies of Europe, the clean, double-breasted design was being covered by awards that worked their way around the double-breasted button configuration.
Unit and early campaign Ärmellstreifen were added to the sleeves. The Schirmmütz für Offizier topped the head and black leather shoes on the feet. No belt was worn with this uniform. Jagdgeschwader 51 began combat in the West during the Battle of France continuing through the Battle of Britain.
The Geschwarder was continually engaged with the RAF until it was transferred to Ost as part of Heeresgruppe Mitte supporting the II. Panzerkorps in the attack on Moscow during Operation Barbarossa. Led by Major Werner Mölders from Juli 1940 until September 1941 the Geschwader took his name as their title in early 1942.
*Feldwebel u. Ritterkreuztrager, Jagdgeshwader “Molders”:
Pilots of Jagdgeshwader 51 (JG 51) “Molders” wom more Ritterkreuz des Eiserne Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeshader in the Luftwaffe. The Squadron flew combat missions from 1939, and in all major theaters of the war. Flying the Messerschmitt BF-109s and then they later received Folk Wulf FW-190s fighter aircraft, in these aircraft the the wing claimed many air- victories,-downing 8,000 enemy aircraft. Experten included “Toni Hafner”, Heinz Bar, Richard Leppla, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Gunther Schack, and the legendary Werner Molders.
Formed in August 1939, and commanded by 48-year-old World War I Ace “Onkel” Theo Osterkamp, in the early months of the war, JG 51 was based in the West. These pilots would serve in the Battle of France, and the Battle of Britain. From late June to mid-July 51 was the only Fighter Geshwader in continuously engaged against the RAF. During the Battle of Britain, JG 51 lost 51 pilots, the highest casualty attrition rate against the Luftwaffe Pilots, against the Western Allies. JG 51 proved itself as an elite Luftwaffe unit, with “Top Ten” Aces at this time including Werner Molders with 68 confirmed kills.
Major Werner Molders became the unit Geschwaderkommodore in July 1940 and led the unit in Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, claiming his 69th kill on the first day. Following Molders' Death, the Geschwader adopted his name as the title of honor in early 1942. In September 1942, I./JG 51 was withdrawn to convert to the FW-190 Fighter Aircraft. By November, they had reported some 4,000 kills. that same month, II./JG 51 was transferred to the Mediterranean Theater to fly over Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy before leaving for Sardinia in April 1943.
During the Kursk Offensive, the Squadron flew as part of Luftflotte 6 in support ofHeeresgruppe Mitte, tasked with escorting Bombers, defensive intercepts, and offensive sweeps over the battle area. On the 5th of July 1943, the Soviets launched concentrated air attacks on the Luftwaffes Airfealds, as one of the largest battles in history began. In late July 1943, JG 51 claimed its 6000th victory; by May 1 944, JG 51 had claimed 8000 enemy aircraft destroyed. The Squadron was then heavily involved in defending the mass retreat, following the Soviet Offensive of June 1944.
Later the Squadron returned back to the Reich, to conduct air defense against the American Daylight Bombing Offensive. Flying from Fligerhorst Stormede, east of Dortmund, the Squadron converted from BF-109s to new FW-i90s to intercept the high-altitude bombers. As the war turned against Germany, JG 51 was forced to operate deeper and deeper back into the German Heartland as the war came to an end.
The Feldwebels fliegerbluse is the standard enlistedmans cut from the Luftwaffes Blau wool cloth. The “Ost-Front” Winter Ribbon, indicates he has been with JG 51 since at least that first Winter in Russia. He has been decorated with the Frontflug-Spange in Gold with 500 missions bar under it as well as the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. Like many of the non-commissioned pilots of JG 51, he may well have earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Not Shown Here). On his right sleeve the Honor Armelband “Molders”. The uniform was worn dailey on the air base, and worn as part of or under his flight gear.
*Need to take pictures with Ritterkreuz.
Major, ‘Custom-Zippered' Flieger Jacket:
The Major has a practical custom-made flight jacket. An oddity in itself, it also has the badges hung through re-inforced holes, as opposed to a typical loop’s to hang the badges on.
The Tropenfliegerjacke:
A unique flight jacket was most certainly worn by a pilot from Jagdgeschwader 27. This jacket’s origin is the standard lightweight design, referred to by English collectors as a “Jerkin”, which can be seen in photos constructed in field-gray and white linen cloth as well as suede leather.
Arriving in Africa with the newly issued four-pocket Luftwaffe Tropenfeldbluse which was a fairly good match to the climate and sun perhaps pilots found their four-pocket design clumsy and awkward for the Bf-109 cockpit, as the fighter is tight, thus creating a demand for one in Khakibraun.
The Tag at the back of the collar, the construction quality as well as matching strongly hint that this uniform was made at a minimum by a quality tailor that was already producing other versions for the Luftwaffe flyers. The Afrika cuff title was authorized only for wear in theater and precludes use in other tropical areas such as Greece. Possibly these could have been used in Tunisia, and even Italy. The jackets could have been used throughout the Mediterranean assignment.
Eric Hartman’s final kill flight suit:
Ace-Erich Hartmann last 109:
A recently discovered image shows a little more than the red heart and part of the Gruppenkommandeurs Doppel-winkel marking, the G-10 apparently features the tulip marking. The variant was also the "hottest" Bf 109 then available, so no surprise Hartmann flew one of these, it is fact most likely to have been Hartmann’s final aircraft of the war.
Hartmann's Camo-Flight Suit.
Hartmann in this picture after hitting the big 350 mark, a famous photo of him, Erich Hartmann scored 352 individual planes shot down during the Second World War. He fought on both fronts as well.
Ace-Erich Hartmanns Camo-Flight Suit.
Erich Alfred " Bubi" Hartmann (aka "Karaya One". He served in the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front in WWII. Nicknamed "The Black Devil", Erich Hartmann claimed 352 combat kills He has the highest number ever recorded of downed aircraft in air battle.
He was forced to crash-land damaged aircraft 14 times, but he was never injured and was never shot down by any of the enemy's forces, he was forced to fight. Possibly the most famous “Ace of Aces".
Someone every military pilot has read about his flying skills.
It is hard for us to imagine, The trauma and suffering these folks faced on a regular and daily basis the likes of which we may never have to know. Though he was the enemy to us, in the US and Allied Forces during the Second World War, his accomplishment demanded attention.
Back to the uniform, This represents the 1 of kind even, custom-made flight jacket and trousers, I hope we have copied it in its exact form, it is all pretty much custom cut and laid out the way it could be seen threw black and white photos. His Rank at that time was Hauptfeldwebel.
The Breast Eagle, a standard Luftwaffe Officer's Breast Eagle, off of a Normal Field Blue M1940 Officer's Flyer's Blouse (Fliegerbluse). The Ace of Aces flew "...around Perhaps 1,45 (missions) and He engaged in air combat approximately 850 times. He surrendered to the Americans on May 8th, 1945, and was subsequently turned over to the Russians.
He was 'tried' for 'war crimes' and was sentenced to 25 years hard labor. He then spent the next 10 and a half years in Russian Gulags. After his release (obtained through pressure by the West German government), he returned to West Germany and was reunited with his wife Usch (Ursula), These are the trousers.
He later served in the Bundesluftwaffe (postwar German Air Force). He had worn this uniform in the later part of the war. There are many more thorough sites on the web to get the total story on this cat. An amazing fellow.
Served in the Bundesluftwaffe (postwar German Air Force). He had worn this uniform in the later part of the war. There are many more thorough sites on the web to get the total story on this cat. An amazing fellow.
A holder of Germany's Highest Honor, the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, with Swords and diamonds, had a special, Or Favorite Cap he wore, Like this Officers, and Pilots-Crusher Cap. And he could squish inside his flight jacket.
To do this uniform justice, I should get photos of someone in it, but that has not happened yet. The hold it in your hand and take a picture thing is all we have so far. This is what Hartmann wore after hitting the big 350 mark. and made from a photo of him standing by one of his Bf-109.
Erich Hartmann "the Blonde Knight of Germany" was born on April 19th, 1922 in Weissach near Wurttemberg Germany. His mother was a licensed pilot and his father was a respected physician who had been an Army Doctor in the First World War.
Along with his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, he also had the metal plate with his ID stamped on to it, that hung on a cord from his neck.
Historically Hartmann led from 14 February 1945 the I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 as acting Gruppenkommandeur, he was later replaced by Helmut Lipfert.
As of March 1945, Hartmann had some 336 aerial victories, when he was asked a second time by General Adolf Galland to join the Me 262 units forming to adopt the jet fighter. Hartmann did go to the jet conversion program led by Heinrich Bär.
Adolf Galland had hoped Hartmann would fly with Jagdverband 44. But Hartmann declined the offer, deciding to remain with his beloved JG 52.
