ContributionForm | |
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Contributor Name | D-Day Museum |
Contributor Image | a.whitmarsh_dday.jpg |
Profession | |
Location | Southsea |
Collection Date | 29.09.08 10.31am |
Artefact Name | 'Rupert' Parachute Dummy |
Artefact Description |
Human figure made of Hessian and attached to a parachute.The parachute is made of silk and is of smaller scale than a usual parachute. Good condition. |
Artefact Date | 1944 |
Artefact Stored | In display case - the D-Day Story |
Artefact Form | |
Artefact Image | 00171rupert_dummy_dday.jpg |
Sample Taken | Piece of thread from Hessian dummy – right-hand |
Sample Image | |
History of Artefact |
These were designed for use on D-Day. In the early hours of D-Day parachutists were being dropped by the allies on either side of the beach-lands in Normandy. These dummies were dropped in other areas and got scattered all over the place because of high winds etc. as a decoy. The idea was that the Germans, from a distance and at night, would see these objects as real parachutists (the parachute and dummy were made in proportion to each other but on a smaller scale). When they were found on the ground the Germans were confused as to which had been the real parachutists and which had been the dummies. Some had devices on them that once landed would make a noise like gunfire to confuse the Germans in to thinking that a battle was taking place. The object is in very good condition so probably had not been used in the battle. |
Historian | Andrew Whitmarsh |
Previous Owners | The British Army |
Special Memories | ‘We bought this at auction circa 1984-85. We don't know its previous history.’ Andrew Whitmarsh |
Artwork Image | 00171_web.jpg |
I | Attachmentb | Action | Size |
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jpg | 00171_web.jpg | manage | 422.7 K |
jpg | 00171rupert_dummy_dday.jpg | manage | 153.5 K |
jpg | a.whitmarsh_dday.jpg | manage | 189.3 K |