Description
Metal LfW collar tab gull — a reproduction of the stylised flying bird rank device worn on the collar tabs of Luftwaffe enlisted men and NCOs. The price is for 1 piece.
The front has a characteristic raised crosshatched texture. The reverse has a fastening for attachment to a cloth collar tab.
Metal alloy, silver colour, approximately 30 × 12 mm, fastening with two bendable prongs.
Historical reference.
Collar tabs for the newly formed German air force were officially introduced on 14 April 1935. Their system was based on the earlier insignia of the German Air Sports Association DLV. Collar tabs were worn in matching pairs: the background colour indicated the branch of service, while metal or embroidered gulls indicated rank.
Among enlisted personnel one gull represented Flieger, two represented Gefreiter, three represented Obergefreiter and four represented Hauptgefreiter. NCOs used the same number of gulls together with silver-coloured braid around the collar tab: Unteroffizier, Feldwebel, Oberfeldwebel and Hauptfeldwebel respectively.
Original applied gulls for enlisted men and NCOs were usually stamped from aluminium. Their characteristic features are a V-shaped flying-bird silhouette, crosshatched texture on the front and two attachment prongs on the reverse. This item reproduces that 1935–1945 pattern of rank insignia.