RAF Parachute - SOE Use?

Discussion in 'SOE & OSS' started by Packhow75, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    I have a small 12ft diameter white heavy cotton parachute with rigging lines terminating on 4 metal clips. There is no bag.

    The only identifying features are:

    1) Broad Arrow Stamp
    2) Manufacturer Stamp? (J.H.T.D 31)
    3) Inspection Stamp? (1/4 in circle with EE 4B )
    4) RAF Identification Number (156/401)

    With the above data, can anyone please tell me what this chute was used for.

    At a guess, small packages... but to know exactly would be excellent... and am hoping the RAF Identification number means something to someone.

    Cheers

    Tim
     
  2. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    From research into the early days of the airborne forces the RAF aircrew used a 22 foot diameter parachute.....this was found to be not too good for airborne troops as it gave a 'hard landing'.....so the diameter was increased to 28 foot....if you have a 12 foot one must have been used either for children (unlikely) or I would suggest light weight supplies.....I also have a note that the paprachutes used to be made by either Irvin or GQ...not much use I'm afraid for JHTD......sorry if this isn't of much help....
     
  3. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    ...if you have a 12 foot one must have been used either for children (unlikely)....

    Is a 12' diameter too big for Rupert?
     
  4. Groundhugger

    Groundhugger Senior Member

    Didnt they use small parachutes for those 'dummy' Paras on D Day , could have been for that ? or a stores pannier ?
     
  5. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Didnt they use small parachutes for those 'dummy' Paras on D Day , could have been for that ? or a stores pannier ?

    This is 'Rupert'. The Parachute doesn't look 12ft in diameter though.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Groundhugger

    Groundhugger Senior Member

    Being a RAF Parachute is it definately WW2 ? Didnt some Jets have them popping out the back to slow them down when they land circa 1950's

    then theres sea mines they also had them when dropped from a Bomber at low level
     
  7. Tab

    Tab Senior Member

    There used to be a metal weapon container which was dropped with the troops. Many of these were coloured so that they troops would know what was in each container.
     
  8. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

  9. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    There is a book that may throw some light on the matter ,its call 'Parachutes in Peace and War' by Prof A.M.Low published 1942.I do have a copy myself, however, I am away from home working so unable to look it up for you.
     
  10. Tab

    Tab Senior Member

    I found a picture of a WW2 weapon contianer landing by Parachute, now in those day all your kit would be in one of these.

    [​IMG]



    Another of the contianers being loaded


    [​IMG]


    Bryan Hunter | ParaData
     
  11. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Is this any help?


    12-Foot Cargo Parachute Canopy
     

    Attached Files:

  12. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

  13. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Aerial delivery and cargo parachutes were gradually evolved from personnel parachutes to perform the specific job for which they have been designed. By the end of World War II, five sizes and weights of parachutes were in use. The aerial delivery parachute, known as type G-1, is a 24' canopy for use with loads up to 300 pounds. It was standardized in December of 1942. The parachutes, cargo, dropping, are known as types G-2, G-3, G-4, and G-5. Their canopies measure 24', 28', 36', and 48', respectively, and are capable of carrying loads up to 3,000 pounds. Parachute assemblies consist of the canopy and pack. Early models of the canopies were of cotton fabric, later changed to rayon. Some of the larger canopies were made of nylon because of its lightness and strength. For identification purposes, canopies were made in various colors-red, green, blue, yellow, or natural. By establishing a color code, the type of supplies being delivered is easily determined by the color of the canopy. For instance, blue canopies might designate water, red canopies, ammunition, green canopies, rations, etc.
     
  14. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    Dave


    Thanks for the data - however the G series I believe are American Parachutes whereas I am looking for data relating to British Parachutes


    I have since found this website...

    http://philippe.chapill.pagesperso-orange.fr/les_parachute_de_largage.htm


    Reading through this I realise that I incorrectly read the stores reference number - it should be 15C/401 not 156/401


    I've also found a reference here which suggests 15A is the categorisation for Aircrew...


    http://www.aircraft-cockpits.com/ww2rafrefno.htm


    Cheers

    Tim
     
  15. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Dave


    Thanks for the data - however the G series I believe are American Parachutes whereas I am looking for data relating to British Parachutes


    I have since found this website...

    http://philippe.chapill.pagesperso-orange.fr/les_parachute_de_largage.htm


    Reading through this I realise that I incorrectly read the stores reference number - it should be 15C/401 not 156/401


    I've also found a reference here which suggests 15A is the categorisation for Aircrew...


    http://www.aircraft-cockpits.com/ww2rafrefno.htm


    Cheers

    Tim

    Hi Tim

    I had realised it was US material,just though it may of lead somewhere, with some sort of back reference:)
     
  16. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

  17. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    The 12' Parachute was used for packages on equipment drops to both SOE Groups, Airborne Forces and Chindits
     
  18. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    The 12' Parachute was used for packages on equipment drops to both SOE Groups, Airborne Forces and Chindits

    Thanks for the confirmation.

    It seems an odd construction - ie heavy cloth with woven rigging lines - presumably this was an "economy" pattern, possibly cheaper to produce?

    Would be great to find an Air Publication describing its use, and illustrating the parachute container (bag) which is missing... I have dropped a line to Hendon to see if they have anything.

    Cheers

    Tim
     
  19. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    RAF/SOE Supply parachutes
    Weight of Package Up to 40lbs - 12 Foot Canopy
    Weight of Package 41 - 80 lbs - 16 Foot Canopy
    Weight of Package 81 - 120 lbs - 20 Foot Canopy
    Weight of Package 121 - 160 lbs - 24 Foot Canopy
    Weight of package 161- 200 lbs - 28 Foot Canopy (Only used for 'double' packages hooked together on the aircraft)

    I have some nice images of the package containers which were made of hairlock fibre enclosed in a camouflaged canvas carry case which I will dig out and post after Easter
     
  20. Colin MacGregor Stevens

    Colin MacGregor Stevens Junior Member

    The "Rupert" pictured by JonathanBall39 18 April 2011 appears to be in a museum but it is I believe a fake as created for the movie THE LONGEST DAY.

    I have one of the original British Rupert parachute dummies from c.1944. The body is a sandbag style and the parachute is built into the back. One of these is at the Pegasus Bridge Museum and another one in a French private collection. I am curious to know about other surviving original examples.

    A "Type Q" 12-foot parachute could be used for the BSA airborne bicycle which was sometimes dropped by itself as opposed to being landed by glider of carried by a parachutist. (Ref. p214 RAF AIRBORNE FORCES MANUAL Vol. 8 (RAF Museum Series). I have a 12-foot British 1944 dated parachute without bag which goes well with my two Welbikes Mk. II, 5 BSA airborne bicycles and ex-1 AB Div jeep (post-Arnhem liberation of Norway).
     

Share This Page