Riesenflugzeugabteilung 501
Sergeant's Model 1910 Flieger Tunic
 
Riesenflugzeugabteilung 501 (Giant Aircraft Detachment 501) Sergeant's Model 1910 Flieger tunic. The tunic was privately purchased, and is manufactured from a high-quality feldgrau ribbed wool with four rear panels. The tunic correctly adheres to the regulations for Fliegertruppen with single Garde Litzen on the collar and double Garde Litzen on the cuffs. The buttons throughout are light grey, correct for Fliegertruppen. The chest awards are the 1914 Iron Cross 1st class and the Prussian Pilot's badge (Flugzeugführerabzeichen). The ribbons are for the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class and the Saxon St. Henry Medal in Silver.
 
 
Collar and cuffs are piped in black for Verkehrstruppen Transportation Troops) and edged in subdued M10 grey NCO's braid. The addition of a large collar button indicates the rank of Sergeant. The privately purchased Flieger shoulder straps are regulation Model 1910, being Feldgrau with light grey piping for Verkehrstruppen. The #3 on the straps indicates the owner of the tunic was initially employed with the 3rd Flieger Ersatz Abteilung (3rd Flyer Replacement Unit) before joining Rfa 501.

Rfa 501 was one of only two units to operate the enormous Staaken heavy bomber over England in the Great War. For more information on Rfa 501 and the Staaken Bomber CLICK HERE.
 
The light-grey Rfa 501 unit patch measures 87 X 67 mm and is hand-sewn onto the sleeve. The patch clearly shows the striped red/white hand-sewn numbers unique to the two heavy bomber units, Rfa 500 and Rfa 501.
Certain clothing articles were purchased by units for wear by NCOs and usually stamped with a unit marking. Once the clothing article was worn for one year, it was declared to be 2/3 of the value and given to the NCO. These clothing articles had to be marked in order to differentiate them from the new articles so they were marked as being Eigentum (property) and were stamped by the unit clothing depot with E or Eigentum.
The lining is stamped "Flieg Ers Abt 1915 Eigentum" which translates as "Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 1915", indicating the tunic was purchased from a tailor by 3rd Flieger Ersatz Abteilung (3rd Flyer Replacement Unit) and stamped as belonging to that unit. After one year of wear, the Feldrock was then stamped with "Eigentum" and given to the NCO for continued use.
 
A view of the Iron Cross 2nd class and Saxon St. Henry Medal in Silver ribbons worn on the buttonhole.
 
A close-up of the Swedish cuffs with Garde pattern NCO lace and subdued Garde Litzen.
 
One of the very few surviving German Pilot's NCO Model 1910 tunics from the Great War, this is believed to be the only surviving tunic from Riesenflugzeugabteilung 501.