Pack, Chest, Parachute, Type AN 6513-1A: 82nd Airborne Division

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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Purchase & License

If you are interested in the full range of licenses available for this material, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team.
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Order this image under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Purchase & License

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Description

Physical description

Type AN 6513-1A parachute chest pack, made of khaki canvas fabric. The pack is rectangular in shape (taking on a 'barrel' shape when fully packed) and opens at the front via four flaps, with two triangular flaps on either side that are held in place by a pair of chrome-plated hooks. These hooks fit over a corresponding chrome-plated stud with a hole at the top, through which the ripcord wire is threaded through, forming the opening mechanism; a further rectangular flap with two lift-the-dot fasteners covers this opening mechanism. The ripcord itself is fitted laterally through an open-ended compartment in the right flap (wearer's), with the cord exiting towards the centre of the pack and the red-painted oval-shaped metal handle fully-exposed at the far end. At the centre-rear of the pack is a small rectangular patch pocket marked 'INSPECTION AND PACKING DATA', where a folded paper 'Parachute Inspection and Drop-Test Card' has been inserted. Fitted to the upper edge of the rear of the pack on either side are two olive drab-painted metal spring-clip hooks, used to attach the pack to the T-5 parachute harness. On the rear right side of the pack (wearer's) is stitched a khaki webbing carrying handle. Fitted vertically around the pack are two bungee cords, with another bungee cord fitted horizontally around the pack; when the ripcord is released, the bungees pull open the pack's flaps, allowing the parachute to deploy. Carefully folded inside the pack are a series of white parachute suspension lines, held in place by rubber bands. The parachute itself is not present.

History note

This AN 6513-1A reserve parachute chest pack belonged to Private Oscar F Prasse Jr of 81mm Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion Headquarters, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and was worn by him on D-Day.

History note

Oscar Frederick Prasse Jr, born 1 October 1924 in Richmond, Virginia, enlisted in the Army on 20 October 1942 in Dallas, Texas. At about 2:20 AM on 6 June 1944 (D-Day), Prasse jumped from C-53 Skytrooper #42-68698 of the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Samuel M Willis Jr, as part of Stick 8, Serial 22. Prasse landed near the village of La Vienville, just south of Drop Zone 'N', along with his good friend and fellow Mortar Platoon member Private First Class Joe Bressler, who had broken his ankle in the landing (Bressler jumped from C-53 Skytrooper #42-68700 as part of Stick 6, Serial 22). When the commander of the 1st Battalion, Major Shields Warren, announced that they could not take injured and wounded with them as they made their way to Hill 30, he gave them the option of either surrendering to the Germans or hiding until relief came. Determined not to leave his friend behind, Prasse opted to carry Bressler on his back so that they could both stay with the 200-strong group of paratroopers, but when a firefight erupted with the Germans, Bressler was left on his own. Prasse returned for his friend later in the evening and carried him to a nearby farmhouse in Saint André à Picauville which had been temporarily vacated by its occupants, the LeGrand family. For the next five days, the two friends hid in the top floor of the house, with Prasse fending off any Germans that passed by as well as venturing out to find food. Prasse and Bressler were eventually relieved by a combat patrol from the 90th Infantry Division. This pack was left in the house, along with a 100 franc note left by Bressler as a thank you to the LeGrand family. Both men fought side-by-side again during Operation Market Garden and then during the Battle of the Bulge, with both surviving the war. Prasse passed away on 19 June 1993.

Inscription

WAR DEPARTMENT A. A. F. Form No. 58 (Revised May 14, 1942) PARACHUTE INSPECTION AND DROP-TEST CARD Type ___________________ Part No. ________________ Serial No. 891309 ______________________________________ BY - / DATE / STATION [crossed out] 3/22/44 Wyatt 3/24/44 18-21131-1

Inscription

PART NO. 43H21008-1 (24 FT. DIA.) DATE OF MFG. JUN 1943

Inscription

43-891309

Inscription

AN 6513-1A PARACHUTE MFG. BY HIGHTSTOWN RUG CO. PARACHUTE DIVISION GOVERNMENT No. _________ MFG. SERIAL No. 43-891309 CONTRACT No. 43-2114-AF

Inscription

INSPECTION AND PACKING DATA

Object Details

Category

Equipment

Creator

Hightstown Rug Co

Production date

1943-06

Materials

Bands: rubber

Bands: painted metal

Pack: cotton

Fittings: chrome

whole: rope

whole: resin

Dimensions

whole: Depth 80 mm, Height 470 mm, Width 235 mm

Catalogue number

EQU 15131

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Pack, Chest, Parachute, Type AN 6513-1A: 82nd Airborne Division

Description

Physical description

History note

History note

Inscription

Inscription

Inscription

Inscription

Inscription

Object Details

Object associations

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Associated events

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