"WWI Pilot Uniforms" Topic

A friend of mine is working on a series of display/presentation miniature vignettes of WWI airfields of various countries each with a few pilots, an aircraft, a few mechanics, and typical airfield structures. He is having trouble finding examples of air force/service/corps pilot uniforms. He is especially confused by group photos of WWI pilots, especially French and German, who are wearing a bewildering variety of uniforms.

Didn't WWI air forces have a standard uniform?

The Brits probably didn't since the RAF was not formed until April 1918. Before that, pilots would have worn the uniform of the branch of service from which they originally came. I imagine something similar is true of the French and Germans.

Also, a lot of pilots and field crew came from other branches of the service. I would guess that they took whatever uniforms they were already issued when they went off to their new assignment.

"Maternity" Tunics for the RFC/ RAF.

WWI German pilots who transferred from other branches wore the uniform of their other branch (thus you see pilots wearing hussar uniforms, infantry uniforms, etc., etc.). Later in the war when they went directly into the air service they had their own uniform also. And you're right – it's a bewildering array!

And then wou have to add the privately purchased kit that many would buy for use in the air. No two pilots needed to look the same.

Men-at-Arms #341 deals with the British Air Forces

link

The Germans

link

I've not found much out there on the French, Belgians, Italians, Austrians or Russians -- especially the latter two.

mjc

Add on all the self supplied fur coats (there's famous picture of Richthofen wearing one) and the fact that the Germans liked to wear a captured RFC leather flying coat if they could get their hands on one and there's even more to muddle it up.

As a model, you might as well plump for Squadron Commander Lord Flashheart of "Blackadder" fame, because the "uniform" he wore was both dashing and confusing!

Also,

Not exactly uniform but the pilots would liberally apply grease, whale oil/blubber or what ever to protect their faces. If you want to get down and get dirty, you may want to paint the pilot faces a bit different to reflect this.

mjc

… and leave them with panda eyes (well reversed panda eyes) if they take their googles off. Early engines pushed out a lot of burnt castor oil.

Thanks all. I put him on to the Osprey books and he's already ordered the German and British set. He's already decided to have a greased-up raccoon-eyed pilot talking to the squadron commander so he can show both the pilot's flying kit and the more presentable undress officer's uniform.

Too bad about the German uniform though. The grey two button rowed cavalry? hussar? tunic George Peppard wore in The Blue Max was certainly smart – and, since the character he played served two years as an infantryman in the trenches before becoming a pilot, just as certainly incorrect.

The bewilderment comes from all of the various regiments pilots came from. Remember, then as now, officers buy their own uniforms. Although in the case of the German Air Service, there was a standard uniform, there really was no prescribed uniform for an officer beyond his badge of rank.

It is very complicated and reflects the amount of change that took place in all air services in a relatively short period of time with war shortages and other exigencies that limited availability of clothing.

Suffice to say the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Air Force, the LuftStreitkrafte, the US Army Air Service, the French air service, the Royal Navy and the United States Navy and Marine Corps for sure had uniform regulations regarding uniforms for their personnel. Operationally, the fliers had a wide range of latitude on what they could or did wear.

Remember, von Richtofen was killed wearing his flying kit over silk pajamas. Many pilots wore a silk stocking under their flying helmet. The acquisition of such an article of flying clothing holding equal significance to its application. Herman Goering wore an earring….but that's a whole different matter.

many pilots of the First World War were also a very superstitious lot and clothing and equipment sometimes reflected this as well. One British pilot had his SE5a seat replaced with an easy chair, although I couldn't imagine why he would want to add that much weight.

The variety is endless.

Incidentally, in the Blue Max, all except for the grounded pilot Kettering wore Uhlan tunics. Richtofen was an Uhlan and is often seen in photographs wearing one, but there are also many pictures of him wearing a standard 1915 fly front tunic as well.

Be careful with Osprey on the subject. Other books with regard to badges disagree.

Somewhere I did have some photos of Richtofen's actual uniforms as held in the Luftwaffe museum at Gatow. Well worth a look round the world war one area for various uniforms and acoutrements :) plus a week in Berlin wouldn't be a waste :)

2nd vote for the Luftwaffe Museum Exhibits on Gatow in the old SHQ/ATC Building, also at Verdun there is some aircrew kit in the museum just down from the Trench of Bayonets.

BBC's DVD Wings will give some examples too (be it from the BBC prop department)of French, German and of course UK.

You cold look at this web site it may help
theaerodrome.com