Fighter pilot's 'Channel Suit' trousers : Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe unlined cotton summerweight flying 'Channel Trousers'. They are made from heavy weight brown and white flecked 'salt and pepper' cotton, and have a buttoned waistband, adjustable by cotton tapes with metal sliding buckles. Attached to the waistband at each hip is a loop of cotton tape with a metal buckle for attachment to braces. At the rear are two pairs of black plastic buttons, also for use with braces. The seat of the trousers is reinforced with a second layer of fabric. The fly is fastened by a 36 cm zipper fly. Zippers also close the lower leg sections to the knee, and two slash openings on the hips, which permit access to clothing worn underneath the trousers. There are five external pockets for the storage of survival equipment. Each thigh has an expanding patch pocket covered with flaps. These are secured with two snap fasteners. On the side of the upper right thigh is an internal pistol holster. On the lower right leg are two narrow pockets. The upper pocket has the opening at the bottom and is secured on one corner by a snap fastener. The left thigh has an internal pocket with a zip fastener concealing a pair of leather loops. The knees are internally reinforced with a panel of blue velveteen. Markings on the seat show where a pair of external patch pockets have been removed. The inside of the front left waistband is stamped in purple ink with the maker's markings '1A 4.43 RBN (obscured) 2549'.

The Luftwaffe's two-piece 'Channel Suit' flying clothing was adopted during the Battle of Britain in 1940, as aircrew recognised the need for storage pockets to hold survival equipment in the event of a forced landing, particularly at sea. Items which could be packed in the many pockets of the 'Channel Trousers' included; a sea rescue light ('Seenotleuchte'), flag ('Seenotflagge'), signal mirror ('Blendspiegel'), knife, cigarettes, whistle, matches, field dressings, dextrose tablets, chocolate, caffeine, frostbite cream and canned fresh water. Although named for the English Channel, which was then the body of water most frequently crossed by German airmen, these suits were eventually worn in every theatre of operations.