Lugers on Aircrew
 

One of my passions is collecting old Imperial, Weimar and III Reich scrapbooks that were assembled by soldiers, sailors and airmen of the period. I find them to be a very effective way to put a human face on Lugers.

Last evening, I recieved from Holland a very good Luftwaffe scrapbook that depicted the life and service of a yound German from his early days in RAD through his time in the N.S.F.K and ultimately the Luftwaffe.

Within the latter Luftwaffe series of photos, there are 4 that depict him putting on his parachute harness and other flying gear. He is clearly wearing a P-08 holster in the photos. As he was standing next to an Avarado, I think this clearly busts the conventional wisdom that only transport aircrews carried Lugers on missions.

The scrapbook also contained the original set of orders and award document for his pilot's wings.

If I had a scanner, I would post these pix, but I don't.

Tom A.

Hi Tom,

An interesting set of photos - and I'd love to see them.. Also - I do not know who said flight crews didn't wear Lugers, but a few did - as you have discovered. As well - carrying Lugers wasn't just confined to "transports" or their aircrews - so I dunno where you read that either as being fact or "wisdom"? If you did - it is wrong.

In fact, and for example - you may want to do a search in this Forum for a post I made where some WW2 German fighter aircraft were delivered with HKs - and I also included the flight plan, dates and training schedules.. ;)

Best to you...!!!!!

John D.

Also, I think I remember a report in these Forums somewhere of a P-08 being taken from a captured downed German bomber pilot--I think that was an Arado, too...

--Dwight

Re: Lugers on Aircrew
 

This is the conventional "wisdom" I have heard for years, that most pilots didn't carry the luger because it was too big! I bet it was a personal choice and what they had in the armorery!


Ed

German Pilots, like all other German Officer, could PURCHASE whatever pistol they desired. The enlisted flight crew members who I have asked about this, all said that they were issued foreign made (FN, CZ, FEG, etc) pistols on an individual trip basis. TH

Tom,
I have a scanner and would be happy to scan whatever you needed

I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to see those photos posted

Jim

With an uncle and a couple cousins in the Luftwaffe, I've had great interest in the German air arm for many years and have compiled a pretty fair library with many pictorial volumes. A quick glance shows the majority of fighter and other single engine pilots with what are apparently PPK's, but several with larger weapons, lugers, P-38's or whaterver. Multi-engine aircrew all appear to favor the larger gun.

Walt, Don't jump to the conclusion that all enlisted in LW uniform were Flight Crew personnel. All the AAW (Flak) batteries were manned by LW personel, and being on the ground, they had a greater chance of being overrun, therefore probably were issued 9mm pistols. TH

The LW actually had ground infantry forces organic to the organization.

Tom A.

Tom and Doc,
100% correct. My uncle was attatched to a Luftwaffe 88 MM flak battery throughout the war (or at least until the Russians relieved him of that responsibility). While in France and Germany, he had been issued a Luger, but that was changed to a P-38 when he was transferred to the Russian front.