Pilot Uniforms

[Gene]

Hello everyone,

Just picked up a nice Air Force gymnesterka (thanx Dmitry!) and want to display it with the proper type of trousers. In the book "Stalin's Eagles" it appears as if the pilots are wearing generic but matching breeches. I found a dealer who's selling "enlisted" trousers that seem to be the same shade of my Lieutenant's gymnesterka. Would these trousers be correct for a display? Or should there be a piped pair? I cannot discern any kind of piping in any of the photos I've reviewed and I want to be accurate (not to mention not being out the money for an improper pair of pants!). I'm also looking for correct boots (they don't seem to be wearing any special "flight" boots like other nation's) and goggles. Is there a Soviet Air Force uniform expert that I could contact? Thanx to all who can help.

Gene

[otlichnik]

Gene,

What type of gym?? M35? M43? What rank??

There are two things to consider. The regulations and actual practice. In the war you could get away with a lot that was not in the regs.

In general, for WWII era, piped khaki, unpiped khaki and piped dark blue are all fine options.

If the tunic is piped it is better if the pants are but they don't abolsutely have to be.

In some regs khaki summer gear (cotton) was unpiped while khaki winter gear (wool) was piped.

While the dark blue piped breeches are officially for service wear (with button-up kitel) as opposed to field wear (with pull-over gym), you often saw blue worn with gym. This is especially common when trying to dress it up, i.e. worn with medals.

Shawn

[Gene]

Shawn,

Forgive my ambiguity. I have an M43 Lieutenant's gymnesterka in khaki cotton, and would like to display it with correct trousers. Like I said, the book "Stalin's Eagles" has lots of pics of guys wearing such tunics, but I can't tell if the pants are anything special. They simply look like enlisted man's breeches. Thanx a lot!

Gene

[otlichnik]

Gene,

For M43 what I said above applies. Most proper would be khaki either with or without light blue piping - whatever the tunic has (i.e. if the tunic has cuff piping then the pants should).

Dark blue service breeches piped with light blue would be fine to but hard to find.

If the tunic has no cuff piping then you are lucky as cheap 1960s khaki breeches would be fine.

Shawn

[Gene]

Thanx Shawn,

Now I need to get an original set of WW2 pilot's goggles and a correct set of boots as worn by pilots in summer.

Gene