Russia, Soviet Union. A Soviet Air Force Colonel's Tunic, with Accoutrements

A well-preserved Soviet Air Force Colonel’s tunic, constructed of heavy dark grey-blue wool. It features a collar which transitions into double breast flaps. The collar is fully lined with dark blue wool piping, and flanked on each side by gilded bronze insignia consisting of Mechanized Troops badges trimmed with L-shaped laurel leaf branches. Each shoulder is adorned with a board constructed of a dark blue wool base, overlaid by dual machine-embroidered bands and pinned with three gilded bronze stars. The boards each measure 60 mm (w) x 160 mm (l) and are secured to the tunic with machine stitching. The cuff of each sleeve is rolled up to a depth of 95 mm and held in place by a band of dark blue wool piping which has been machine-stitched to the tunic. Dual side pockets are located near the lower quarter of the breast flaps and open with reinforced horizontal flaps. It closes with three bronzed magnetic metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. Additionally, there are three decorative buttons of identical construction located on the left flap. All buttons present with a raised five-pointed star overlaid by a sickle and hammer. A dark grey rayon-blended liner fully encompasses the interior, with a single pocket located at the upper left breast flap. The tunic is unmarked and measures 540 mm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 660 mm and an overall body length of 860 mm. Material fatigue is evident to the exterior wool, particularly on the breast flaps near high-contact points with the arms, and the tunic is in an overall better than very fine condition.

It is accompanied by a belt, constructed of a dark grey-blue cotton-blended base, overlaid on the exterior by a machine-embroidered gold bullion wire tresse, in turn bearing three machine-embroidered multi-coloured bands, the reverse with 14 eyelets reinforced with magnetic metal grommets, with seven distributed at each end for a fully adjustable fit, retaining a period original buckle consisting of a bronze oak leaf wreath overlaid by a five-pointed star bearing a sickle and hammer, and an additional sliding bronze loop, unmarked, measuring 50 mm (w) x 1450 mm (l), in near extremely fine condition.

Also accompanied by a small belt, constructed of an olive-drab cotton blend, one end retaining a bronze buckle, the interior with a functional magnetic metal snap button, unmarked, measuring 45 mm (w) x 920 mm (l), in extremely fine condition.

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