Uniforms for Luftwaffe personnel were similar in style to their Heer counter parts except the color. Luftwaffe Uniforms were a blue gray (field blue) color and Heer Uniforms were a gray green (field gray) color. Combat equipment was pretty much standard through out the German Armed Forces. But there again most Luftwaffe Gear was painted field blue, canvas gear was dyed field blue, most leather gear was left a natural brown. Initially outfitted with Luftwaffe Uniforms and Combat Equipment, once transferred to the control of the Heer, and as stocks of uniforms and equipment began to wear out. It was replaced with Heer Uniforms and Equipment. Soldats who initially volunteered from the Luftwaffe did try display the Luftwaffe National Emblem and Rank Insignia.
The most distinguished piece of clothing worn by soldiers of the Luftwaffe Field Divisions is the Luftwaffe Ground Combat Jacket . These were issued in mid to late 1943 to the Field Divisions. The camouflage patterns used were the Splinter B Camo and the Tan and Water Camo. The Splinter B Camo was the most commonly worn of the two different Camo styles. The Luftwaffe national Emblem was worn above the right breast and shoulder boards were also worn with the jacket.
UNIFORM
Fliegerbluse (Flying Blouse): The Fliegerbluse was the official garment available to all ranks of all branches of the Luftwaffe. Features of this tunic are five hidden glass buttons and buttonholes with a front flap, two internal breast pockets, angled slash hip pockets, cotton 0r artificial silk/rayon lining and belt hook holes on the sides only. The tunic can be closed at the collar with a metal hook and ring and or worn open. Insignia for this tunic will be the Luftwaffe Eagle worn on the right breast, Rifle Green Collar Taps with Rank Gulls, Field Blue Shoulder Boards made of wool piped in Rifle Green.
Feld Hosen (Field Trousers): The field blue wool 1937 pattern trousers, same in cut and style as the field gray Heer type. The trousers have four pockets cut at a slant and are secured by a small metal, horn or plastic button. A single rear pocket is found on the right panel. A watch pocket is located on the right front panel, near the waist. Two cloth strips and a buckle in the rear make adjustment of fitting. A belt was not worn with this type of trousers, there are suspender buttons sewn inside the waist for suspenders. Five hidden buttons secure the front fly.
Feldbluse (Field Tunic M43): This tunic is the Heer version issued to Field Division personnel when their Luftwaffe clothing began to wear out. Made in field gray wool, it features 4 plain pockets, 6-button front, and an artificial silk/rayon lining. The tunic can be closed at the collar or worn open. Insignia for this tunic will be Field Blue Wool Shoulder Boards piped in Rifle Green, Rank Gulls can be attached directly to collar or left off, and the Luftwaffe Eagle backed in Field Blue worn over right breast pocket or left off.
M43 Keilhose (M43 Trousers): The field gray wool high waisted trousers are designed with two built in adjustable buckle straps on either side of the waist, four large button down belt loops, two angled front pockets, one rear pocket and a watch pocket in the right front. The pockets and the fly are secured with buttons of metal, plastic or artificial horn. The legs are tapered with ties at the end of each leg. The trousers are designed to be held in position by the cartridge belt, cloth or web belt or suspenders.
Undershirt: The undershirt in either gray or late war brown/ green should be worn under the tunic. A gray woolen turtleneck sweater may be worn in lieu of the undershirt when in the field under fall or winter conditions. Also a black tie may be worn on the undershirt under the tunic for dress occasions.
Headgear: The Luftwaffe schifflen or fliegermutze (overseas cap) in field blue or the M43 in either field blue or field gray are for dress occasions, garrison and camp settings, Insignia will be the Luftwaffe Eagle centered on top front of the cap and the National Kokade below it.
Footgear: Jackboots or Lowboots with gemaschen may be worn. If Lowboots are worn, the gemaschen may be either Wehrmacht issue in field gray or Luftwaffe issue in field blue. All boots should have leather soles, hobnails, toe taps and heel irons.
Note: I will leave it up to the individual as to which of the above uniforms they choose to do their impression. I do however stress that the above uniforms are the only uniforms authorized for Field or Garrison wear while a member of Fusilier Battalion 16.
FIELD EQUIPMENT
The basic field gear for a Fusilier in the in Fusilier Battalion 16 would essentially be the same as a Grenadier in the Heer or SS. Again the difference would be the mixture of Luftwaffe field blue painted metal gear, field blue canvas, and natural brown leather gear with Wehrmacht field gray canvas and black leather gear. Therefore we should try to have a mixture of field gear to better represent the late war look of a Luftwaffe Field Division.
Stahlhelm (Steel Helmet): There are 3 types of Stahlhelm. They are the M35, M40, and M42. The helmets can be painted field blue, field gray or camouflaged. Period helmet nets, chicken wire, splinter pattern camouflage covers and breadbag straps can also be used to hold natural vegetation to further camouflage the helmet when in the field.
Koppel (Belt): The belt was a simple black or brown smooth leather belt for equipment support.
Koppelschloss (Belt Buckle): The standard enlisted man’s belt buckle was made of stamped aluminum or late war steel. The Luftwaffe Eagle was centered on it surrounded by a wreathe and painted field blue.
Koppeltraggestell (Y-Strap): These we introduced in 1939 to better support the belt when equipment was attached. There were 2 versions issued the black leather was standard issue; and reed green and olive green webbing for tropical and late war issue.
Patronentasche (Cartridge pouches): The standard pouches were for the Kar 98k Rifle. There are a variety of cartridge pouches for the various weapons used by the German forces.
Brotbeutel (Bread Bag): The Bread bag was a simple canvas single-compartment haversack. Early in the war they were field gray by 1941/42 they were produced in olive green. The Luftwaffe Bread Bag was in field blue.
Feldflasche (Canteen): The canteen was a unpainted aluminum .8 liter bottle with a brown felt insulating cover. A oval shaped drinking cup painted black and then field gray was carried upside down straped to the top of the canteen.
Kochgeschirr (Mess Kit): The kidney shaped cross-section mess kit was composed of two components, the pan and pot. These were held together by a leather equipment strap. The mess kit would be painted field green or olive green.
Kleines Schanzzeug (Entrenching Tool): This was a simple small spade with a steel blade and short wooden handle overall length was just over 50cm.
Tragbuche fur Gasmaske (Gasmask Canister): This was a heavy steel fluted canister that held the M1930 and M1938 masks. These were issued in field gray but sometimes they would be painted different colors in the field.
Zeltbahn (Tent Quarter): This is a splinter pattern camouflage triangular, water repellent, cotton gabardine twill multipurpose shelter, ground cloth, and rain cape. These could be buttoned together with other tent quarters to form various size tents.