"What They Wore" - AAF Parachutes
NOTE: This is original research by Joshua DeJong and the result of thousands of hours studying archival documents, period photographs, and original relics. Please don't plagiarize the information.
Not sure what parachute is correct? Don't sweat it, use the charts and graphs below and you'll be an expert in no time! (Use it as a general guide, not a rigid rule)
1) Use the chart below to pick the correct category of parachute (chest, back seat) for your aircraft.
2) Then, use the following two charts to pick the specific model (ie, A-3/A-4 or B-7/B-8 etc) that is most correct for your date range.
3) The last few paragraphs tell more about the study and how to best use it
1) Use the chart below to pick the correct category of parachute (chest, back seat) for your aircraft.
2) Then, use the following two charts to pick the specific model (ie, A-3/A-4 or B-7/B-8 etc) that is most correct for your date range.
3) The last few paragraphs tell more about the study and how to best use it
Notes: If only a single letter is shown, that means over 80% wore that parachute. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but this is generally what you want. If there are multiple letters, the first letter is the most common parachute and the next letter the second most common, etc. So if it says "B/C/S", that means the Back type was most common, followed by Chest type, and finally the Seat type.
Lack of head space in the P-38 and P-51 usually required back type parachutes like the B-8. For the L-5 Grasshopper, either chest or back is acceptable, but limited head space often required the back type for taller pilots.
Lack of head space in the P-38 and P-51 usually required back type parachutes like the B-8. For the L-5 Grasshopper, either chest or back is acceptable, but limited head space often required the back type for taller pilots.
If the first chart said chest type parachutes, then use this second chart to identify the proper chest model based on the date range. For example if you are portraying 1942, the AN-6513 is the only option. However, for mid-1943, you could do either the AN-6513 or the Observer model. For late 1944, the A-3 is by far the most common.
Wartime studies indicated that chest type parachutes were the most prone to malfunction. Nevertheless, the convenience factor made them the most popular and widely used parachute on bombers. The ability to easily move around the aircraft was valued above the malfunction rate. Also of interest, is to note the AN-6513 and A-3 harness percentages cross each other around May 1944. That is the same month the red/yellow color coding scheme was first adopted. Coincidence? Probably not. With both models out in full force, the necessity to differentiate between the harnesses became very obvious. See also the color coding page for more information.
Wartime studies indicated that chest type parachutes were the most prone to malfunction. Nevertheless, the convenience factor made them the most popular and widely used parachute on bombers. The ability to easily move around the aircraft was valued above the malfunction rate. Also of interest, is to note the AN-6513 and A-3 harness percentages cross each other around May 1944. That is the same month the red/yellow color coding scheme was first adopted. Coincidence? Probably not. With both models out in full force, the necessity to differentiate between the harnesses became very obvious. See also the color coding page for more information.
If the first chart said back type parachutes, then use this third chart to identify the proper back model based on the date range. For example if you are portraying 1942, the B-7 or Seat type are both good options. For December 1943, the B-7 or B-8 could be used. By late 1944, the B-8 was by far the most common.
Seat parachutes were very common early war, and were procured in massive quantities in 1942. However, they proved awkward in many situations and were quickly phased out. Despite a chronic shortage of back types, back chutes were substituted in place of seat types wherever possible.
NOTE: This graph tracks the relationship between back and seat parachutes in situations were either were acceptable. For aircraft such as the P-47 where the seat parachute is the only one recommended, seat types remained standard issue until the end of the war.
Seat parachutes were very common early war, and were procured in massive quantities in 1942. However, they proved awkward in many situations and were quickly phased out. Despite a chronic shortage of back types, back chutes were substituted in place of seat types wherever possible.
NOTE: This graph tracks the relationship between back and seat parachutes in situations were either were acceptable. For aircraft such as the P-47 where the seat parachute is the only one recommended, seat types remained standard issue until the end of the war.
Tips for using this study:
The analysis pertains specifically to the ETO. Operations in the Pacific are often similar, but tend to lag behind the timeline by several months. Training operations stateside also tended to use older equipment, as new gear was in high demand in combat theaters. Seat parachutes often remained in use for training while the new chest and back types were sent straight to the front lines.
Use this information as a guide, not a rigid rule. With over 1 million parachutes produced for the AAF during WWII, you are bound to find any number of oddities. You will also find some variation between different units.
How this study was conducted:
This study draws information from several sources. Summary data for approximately 4,200 airmen was gleaned from three different 1945 parachute studies. This information was then backed by an extensive pictorial analysis by this author of nearly 500 aircrews of 8th AF heavy bombardment groups from 1942-1945. The "What They Wore" chart is based on the recommendations from a 1945 study, augmented by the pictoral history analysis. The Chest Type timeline draws extensively on the pictoral analysis. Because airmen frequently removed their heavy and cumbersome seat and back parachutes before taking pictures, by necessity the Back & Seat type graph leans more heavily on AAF documentation. All text and images Copyright 2025. I spent countless hours of my personal time on the study - please don't steal the information. If you found this study helpful, please let me know and share with a friend!
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