Raining Ruperts

The British and Americans dropped hundreds of these over northern France during D-Day. They were nicknamed “Ruperts” and were also known as paradummies instead of paratroopers. Their purpose was twofold: to intimidate the enemy, at least initially, into thinking greater numbers of paratroopers were invading from the skies, and to shift enemy defenses away from where the actual live paratroopers would be coming down.

One of many deceptive strategies put in place for the D-Day invasion ...