Germany, Luftwaffe. A Service Tunic for a Leutnant of Kampfgeschwader 4

(Luftwaffe Waffenrock für einen Leutnant der fliegenden Truppe im Geschwader General Wever). An extremely well-preserved service tunic for a Flight Personnel Leutnant, constructed of dark blue-grey wool with a pronounced whipcord weave. It features a turned-down collar which is trimmed along the edge with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping. The collar is flanked on each side by tabs which are constructed of golden-yellow wool with buckram cores, trimmed with twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire piping, bear a single silver aluminum wire gull situated above an oak leaf wreath of identical construction, and which measure 45 mm (w) x 60 mm (l). The shoulders are topped by boards which are constructed of golden-yellow wool with rigid card stock cores and topped by four bands of silver aluminum wire piping. Each measuring 35 mm (w) x 105 mm (l), the boards are secured in place with machine stitching at the seam of the shoulder, and with pebbled metal buttons on the inner edge. The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 13 cm and fixed in place with a piece of stitching. Affixed to the right cuff is a title constructed of a dark blue wool base bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire inscription of “GESCHWADER GENERAL WEVER”, indicating issue to an Officer of Kampfgeschwader 4, a bomber wing which saw service in every operational theatre of the Wehrmacht throughout the war. Four pleated pockets are set into the breasts, all closing with scalloped flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes which meet pebbled metal buttons. Stitched onto the upper right breast just above the corresponding pocket is an insignia constructed of a dark blue-grey wool base bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, measuring 90 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. The tunic closes with four pebbled metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. Fastened through the two top buttons and right shoulder boards is an elaborate Officer-grade aiguillette, constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, terminating at each end in a silvered feinzink cap. Four sets of threaded loops distributed over and around the upper left pocket facilitate the addition of badges and a ribbon bar, while two additional loops set into the upper right pocket indicate that the owner was a recipient of the Spain Cross or German Cross. A multi-piece slate-grey rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, and transitions into a pinstripe design through the arms. A single interior pocket is integrated into the seam of the left breast. Unmarked, the tunic measures approximately 46 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 58 cm, and an overall length of 74 cm (when folded on a flat surface). Minor material fatigue consistent with age and wear is visible to the base material, but this high-quality tunic, issued to a decorated Officer of a noted bomber wing, remains in an extremely fine condition.