Description
Physical description
One-piece step in flying suit made of brown and white flecked cotton fabric with a stand & fall collar. There is a diagonal zip fastener, running right chest to left hip and the cuffs are closed by zips and snap fasteners. A button-down flap is located to the right shoulder to enclose the diagonal zipper head.
Label
There were three main types of flying suits used by the Luftwaffe pre-war and these continued to be used throughout the Second World War (with the addition of several types of jacket & trouser combinations). Each of the three earlier types were designed for flying in different types of terrain and weather. This, the lightweight summer flying combination suit, was invariably used by trainee pilots and aircrew and is normally associated with crews of bombers on operations, although sometimes worn by fighter pilots too. For use in warmer weather, this unlined suit was worn over the man's standard service dress uniform.
History note
Lagois 'Fred' Ehrenfried, born 23 May 1915 in Leipzig, joined the Luftwaffe in November 1939 and flew as part of Lehrgeschwader 2 during the Battles of France and Britain, being shot down in the former. From 1942 he was a member of I Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 1, flying ground attack operations on the Eastern Front, and was awarded the German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) in gold later that year. Having amassed over 600 combat flights in March 1944, Oberfeldwebel Lagois, then of 5 Staffel, Schlachtgeschwader 2 'Immelmann', was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Lagois was killed the following month when his Fw 190 was hit by friendly anti-aircraft fire near the Khersonyes airfield in Crimea, causing his aircraft to crash into the Black Sea.
Inscription
Lagois, Ehrenfr.