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.
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