This parachute was donated by a former resident of New Marion, Indiana.
A white silk wedding dress made from a World War II parachute has "landed" at the Indiana State Museum. "This is
such an incredible and rare find", said Mary Jane Teeters-Eichacker, curator of social history. "We depend on doners
like this who are willing to give us pieces of their history to share with others".
Cooper made the parachute-silk dress for her sister Lydia Ann Cory for her wedding in Indianapolis on Aug. 24, 1947.
Cooper not only used teh parachute fabric for her sister's dress, but also trimmed the veil, sleeves and hem with the ripcord
from the parachute pack. According to Teeters-Eichacker surplus reserve parachutes were used because they were made
of white silk, a fabric that wasn't commonly found during the war. This luxurious, durable fabric could be used for
all types of garments.
According to the Indianapolis Star, the Real Silk Hosiery located in Indianapolis (no longer in business) made parachutes.
It cannot be confirmed, but it is possible that some were used by Jefferson Proving Ground.
It has been told that area residents came to the Jefferson Proving Ground for the used parachutes. They used them
for making items of clothing and many other items.
The small parachutes (like the one in the above pictures) were fired by a mortar gun tube. The large parachutes
were dropped by plane. Each parachute carried a night flare to light up the surrounding area during the drop.
An Air Force Group assigned to this program resided in the barracks located near the old hangar at JPG. It has been
stated that these items were tested during the Mid-1940's and continued for several years.
