Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 362:
Description
WWII German Luftwaffe Parachute Harness Back Pad (Rueckenpolster), Oval L.B.A. Acceptance Stamp with Inspector Code 1785, Dated 31 Juli 1942 Offered here is an original World War II German Luftwaffe parachute back pad, a padded canvas cushion made to be snapped onto the standard seat- or back-type parachute harness worn by Luftwaffe aircrew. The piece bears the oval L.B.A. (Luftwaffen-Bekleidungsamt, or Luftwaffe Clothing Office) acceptance stamp with inspector code 1785, accompanied by the clear German-language production date "31. JULI 1942." These markings firmly establish the pad as genuine Luftwaffe issue rather than a Royal Air Force pilot’s pad, as it had previously been catalogued; no comparable RAF pattern uses this style of oval German acceptance mark or German-language date stamp. By the middle of the war the Luftwaffe had standardized a range of seat and back-type parachute harnesses for its combat aircrew, including the 30 I S / FL 30230 series fitted to fighters such as the Bf 109 and Fw 190 and to dive-bombers like the Ju 87. A properly fitted harness had to hold an airman securely enough to survive a bailout while remaining tolerable through long hours in a cramped cockpit, and the webbing straps could otherwise dig into the back and shoulders during patrols, aerobatic maneuvers, or the sudden g-forces of combat. Padded cushions of this type, procured and inspected through the Luftwaffe Clothing Office, were fitted between the wearer’s back and the harness webbing to spread pressure and reduce chafing; the acceptance stamp reflects the quality-control process applied to flight equipment sourced from the many contractors supplying the Luftwaffe. The July 1942 date places this example squarely within the period of sustained Luftwaffe air operations on multiple fronts, when such practical fittings formed part of an aviator’s everyday working kit; the stamp establishes date and official acceptance but does not identify an individual wearer or aircraft. The pad is constructed of sturdy olive-green canvas over internal padding, with stitched vertical and diagonal channels keeping the fill evenly distributed along its elongated, back-contoured shape. Six tan-and-brown herringbone-twill retention straps are arranged in three pairs across the face, each fastened by twin nickel-finish Prym-style snap fasteners corresponding to attachment points on the parachute harness webbing. The reverse shows a symmetrical arrangement of twelve brass-toned eyelets for lacing or additional attachment, together with two diamond-shaped ventilation cuts. The oval L.B.A. stamp and the dated "31. JULI 1942" marking remain clearly legible on the face of the pad, close beside one of the retention straps. In very good original condition, the canvas shows minor surface soiling, creasing, and age toning consistent with wartime use and storage. The herringbone webbing remains sound overall, with localized discoloration and edge wear near the snap fasteners, and the metal fittings show light surface oxidation. The internal padding retains its form and the stamped markings remain crisp and readable. A well-marked and correctly identified example of Luftwaffe flight equipment, its oval L.B.A. stamp and 1942 date offering collectors a rare, tangible link to the working comfort gear issued to German aircrew flying combat sorties in the middle years of the war.
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