DRYING THE CANOPIES - Ft. Benning. Though bulky, silk was an excellent material for the purpose, but its supply became limited to most countries when the war broke out. Rayon was substituted, and late in the war the US began using nylon, which proved better than silk. Canopies were generally white but that it was soon realized that white canopies left on the ground and hung on trees both attracted unwanted attention and gave an accurate count of the size of the airborne presence. Nylon chutes would take the dyes which allowed them to be camouflaged. Equipment 'chutes are dyed red and yellow, depending on the nature of the cargo. Blue might designate water, red canopies, ammunition, green canopies, rations etc.