Luftwaffe Lugers?
 

I'm aware of the 1937 Kreighoff lugers going to the german paratroops so what about the Luftwaffe pilots, if they carried P-08s besides the other axis pistols, is there a way to verify it was luftwaffe issued?

Trust but verify is ideal but sadly..no. I will say this I would have to guess that most if not all Krieghoff Luger went to the Luftwaffe but not necessarily to paratroops. The Luftwaffe was a HUGE organization..made up of thousands of flak units! Flight personnel and the paratroops were small by comparison. Many of the period photo's of German paratroops..they are wearing P-38's.

No idea or no way to verify what Mauser P-08s went to the Luftwaffe?

Sorry, the answer is no.

I picked up a beautiful byf 41 in a great Eagle/6 holster with eagle/6 tool from the nephew of the vet who brought it back. There is no reason to think that the Luftwaffe did not receive Mauser P08s.

There is information presented in Joop and Don's book that the Navy and the Luftwaffe periodically received P.08s from Mauser.

However, there is no way to identify specifically the P.08s that went to the Luftwaffe.

However, a couple of things for sure. Krieghoff with their total production of 10,000 plus guns could never have met the requirements of the Luftwaffe. The LW was a very large and complex organization. So they needed more Lugers than HK could ever have supplied.

Second, about the only thing for sure about where the P.08s were deployed is that they were NOT used by fighter pilots. Cockpits were much too small to accommodate a pilot and gear plus a bulky gun like the P.08. I'm talking smaller caliber 7.65 mm varieties being more likely. But, as far as aircrew are concerned look at Transports and Bombers. Much more room.

And of course, the airborne, air defense, base security, etc. as the largest users.

John

Early Fallshirmjaeger did have Lugers, but mid to late war many more P-38s are seen.

The one way to know if the Luger was Luftwaffe issued would be to have a veteran's affidavit and capture papers confirming its capture from Lutwaffe personnel.

Thanks for all the info