wartime paratrooper dummies and decoys
October 5, 2008 2:04 PM Subscribe
Burlap paradummies called Ruperts were dropped during D-Day, later depicted in the film The Longest Day. But prior to D-Day, both the British and the Germans had used straw-filled decoys in various locations. Later in the war, the U.S. tested "Oscar" but found him lacking, adopting instead the PD Dummy.
Learn more at the decoy paratrooper dummy site and at this encyclopedia entry for Ruperts.
Also:
Declassified OSS Film of WWII Decoy Paratrooper 1943
Photo of a PD Pack in a museum
And just for amusement, the G.I. Joe Paratrooper Hang-Time Contest Results
Learn more at the decoy paratrooper dummy site and at this encyclopedia entry for Ruperts.
Also:
Declassified OSS Film of WWII Decoy Paratrooper 1943
Photo of a PD Pack in a museum
And just for amusement, the G.I. Joe Paratrooper Hang-Time Contest Results
German paradummies? You mean the infamous Fallschirmfälschung?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:00 PM on October 5, 2008
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:00 PM on October 5, 2008
So the English paradummies were carbon neutral compared to their American counterparts.
posted by mattoxic at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2008
posted by mattoxic at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2008
there are also dummy tanks out there, though I kinda doubt they ever got dropped out of the sky. the serbs apparently used inflatable dummy tanks very effectively in the bosnian war, fooling U.S. satellites.
posted by krautland at 4:22 PM on October 5, 2008
posted by krautland at 4:22 PM on October 5, 2008
In college, our student television station stunt dummy was named Jasper. Jasper got the stuffing beat out of him on a regular basis.
He never once complained, although I could have sworn I once heard him muttering something about how "this country needs another Vietnam."
posted by infinitewindow at 4:25 PM on October 5, 2008
He never once complained, although I could have sworn I once heard him muttering something about how "this country needs another Vietnam."
posted by infinitewindow at 4:25 PM on October 5, 2008
"Their contribution to the top secret paradummy development effort resulted in much better generations of paradummies to follow."
You know how it is when you idly click on a link, and suddenly read the best thing you have read all week? That always makes me happy.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:14 PM on October 5, 2008
You know how it is when you idly click on a link, and suddenly read the best thing you have read all week? That always makes me happy.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:14 PM on October 5, 2008
The ultimate decoy dummy paratrooper.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:17 PM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Pollomacho at 5:17 PM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
After their sterling war service, stuffed shirts called Rupert went on to prominent roles in British politics, economic life and especially the media.
posted by Abiezer at 5:42 PM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Abiezer at 5:42 PM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Pollomacho, totally fascinating - thanks for that link!
posted by madamjujujive at 6:51 PM on October 5, 2008
posted by madamjujujive at 6:51 PM on October 5, 2008
I think it's important to have dummy dummies to protect the valuable dummies from getting destroyed before they completely fulfill their role. Of course you may need some protection for them, too.
posted by crapmatic at 9:15 PM on October 5, 2008
posted by crapmatic at 9:15 PM on October 5, 2008
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posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:22 PM on October 5, 2008 [1 favorite]