Reichluftausichtdienst der Luftwaffe

[Paul R]

The Luftwaffe Air Traffic Control was initially called the Luftaufsicht Luftpolizei, which was under control of the individual German states. In mid 1934, the Luftpolizei was then taken over by the Reich and became a separate authority within the Reich Air Ministry(RLM). The organization was renamed the Reichluftausichtdienst.

The Luftwaffe Reichluftausichtdienst had two components. One component consisted of members of the Regular Luftwaffe and the other consisted of Luftwaffe Officials.

Regular Luftwaffe Air Traffic Controller


The Luftwaffe Air Traffic Controller was established in March 1935, after it's decamouflage.

The waffenfarbe prescribed was to be Light Green.

Initially, NCOs used collar tabs with tress along the outer and lower edges on both the tunic and overcoat. The use of these tabs on the tunic was quickly abolished with the introduction of collar tress for use on the tunics and blouses, although the use of these tabs continued on the overcoats until abolished in 1942. The Officers used the standard style of Luftwaffe collar tabs, in the light green waffenfarbe.

The shoulder boards were of the same pattern used by the Luftwaffe, for all paygrades. The light green waffenfarbe is used.

Below are some images of collar tabs as described above. The first set is for an Oberleutnant and the single is for a Grefeiter. Also pictured is a single shoulder strap for an Uffz.

[Paul R]

Air Traffic Controller, Officials

First Pattern Insignia

On 1Sep1934 a special uniform was created and revealed for the officials of the Reich Air Traffic Control, which resembled that being used by the DLV in design. Most officials were either in the middle or elevated levels.

The shoulder boards were similar to those used by NCOs of the LW Officials, but of narrow construction. Rank was specified by the use of "slides" versus pips.

On 01March1935, regulations further changed the appearance of the uniform by:

1. Using the Light Green branch color for the ATC Officials.
2. Three pointed triangles associated with the LW Officials. The wreath and pips were made of stamped aluminum colored metal.

There were three rankings:

Untermeister- Ranked higher than an Oberfeldwebel
Meister- Equal to a Leutnant
Obermiester- Equal to an Oberleutnant

Oddly enough, the Meister and Obermeister did possess an officer's ranking, however they were not granted all of the extras normally afforded to officers.

The Air Traffic Controller Official wore the standard Luftwaffe uniforms. The tunic had the 3mm collar piping which consisted of twist cord with the branch color for all rankings. The NCO flyer's cap was also worn by the Meister and Obermeister(Officer rankings) rankings, with the officer's cords being worn by all rankings(even NCO). Here are some unique uniform requirements particular to the Air Traffic Control Officials:
1. Visor caps- Officer's Chin cord on EM visor with branch color piping. Embroidered insignia was permitted.
2. National emblems of hand embroidery on tunics and blouses.
3. Leather Officer's style belt and shoulder strap(shoulder strap abolished early into the war)
4. Officer's Cape(only for Obermeister)
5. Duty Gorget.


Here are some images of some first pattern insignia. The collar tabs are for the rank of Meister. The shoulder cords are for an Untermeister and Meister(the ranks had different names at the time the cords were used, but I cannot find them at this time).

[Paul R]

Second Pattern Insignia

By order dated 23Jul1935, the light green branch color(lower layer on shoulder boards and color of collar tabs) and red nebenfarbe(center layer on boards) were introduced for all officials of the Reich Air Traffic Control.

The practice of using the aluminum devices was abolished on 28Dec1936. The wreath and pips were then embroidered onto the tab with a matte/dull blue gray thread.

As you will notice above, there is some overlap when the first pattern tabs would have been used with the second pattern boards.


Below are pictured some examples of the second pattern insignia.
The board is for an Untermeister. The tabs are for an elevated level Meister(Leutnant) and an embroidered Untermeister with the early blue/silver piping indicative of the Middle Career Level

[Ben Evans]

Great thread, very interesting

[Paul R]

Third Pattern Insignia

By order on 10May1940, the branch color was changed to dark green, same as seen with the Administrative Officials. That means that insignia were replaced with dark green collar tabs. The new boards had the dark green waffenfarbe(lower layer) and light green nebenfarbe(center layer).

On 02November1940, the Meister and Obermeister were renamed Leutnant and Oberleutnant, with full officer's uniform. The collar patches were changed as noted in the images below.

Officials of the Elevated and High Grade Careers had titles of Officials of the General Administrative Branch with the suffix "im Reichluftausichtdienst" and wore the standard uniform of the air traffic controller officials. The only difference in the uniforms being the tab piping(Silver tab piping for elevated and gold tab piping for High Grade Career).

The uniform pictured illustrates a compilation of the final insignia configuration of the LW ATC. The ranking is for a Meister!

[Paul R]

Great thread, very interesting

Thanks Ben!!

[Dimas]

Very nice to see a rare examples of Luftwaffe uniforms.
What is the type of piping (Paspel)
Is this is the same as Polizei? Looks like the shoulderstrap has a 2 layer cloth?

[Paul R]

Hello!

Thanks for the compliment. I have lots more in similarly obscure areas of the Luftwaffe, which I hope to show later.

You are correct. The shoulder boards are double layered, like the police boards, but they are not the same color configuration as the various police organizations.

The Municipal Police boards have a lower level of grass green, center layer of brown, topped by the russian braid. The lower level on LW Admin boards are a darker green.

[djr1010]

here is a collar tab or waffenfarbe that is dark green, I suspect it is Luftwaffe fireman officer, but I do not know what the shd stands for. Can anyone enlighten me to what this item is?

[bigmacglenn]

SHD=Sicherheits und Hilfsdienst...A type of auxiliary police attached to the Luftschutz-Network...
cheers, Glenn

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