[Navy]

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.