Paratroopers of the Allied land on La Manche coast, on June 6, 1944 after Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches during D-Day.

AFP/Getty Images

75 years ago today, 23,400 Allied paratroopers stepped out of aircraft into the skies over Normandy, France to join the nearly 133,000 Allied troops storming the beaches. The Allied invasion of Europe, Operation Overlord, had begun; within a year of D-Day, the Nazis would be defeated and the war in Europe would be over. But the airborne troops who parachuted into France on D-Day might not have been equipped for the task if a woman in Connecticut hadn’t made her own jump two years earlier.

Adeline Gray, at just 24 years old, already had stories to tell. She had spent the years before World War Two as a barnstorming pilot and a a stunt parachutist — possibly the only woman in the U.S.who could claim that title in the 1930s. She also ran a parachuting school. In 1942, she worked for the Pioneer Parachute Company as a parachute rigger and tester, responsible for inspecting and packing parachutes. Lives were in Gray’s hands, and she understood that better than most.

Gray’s employer had recently joined forces with a chemical company called DuPont to work on an important research project for the war effort. Most parachutes in the early 1940s were made of silk, which had turned out to be lighter and stronger than cotton. But in 1941, the U.S. found itself at war with its only silk supplier, Japan. The war cut off a booming trade in silk; the Japanese industry told $70 million worth of material a year to the U.S. just for stockings, never mind parachutes. In 1942, six months into a world war, the U.S. desperately needed material for parachutes — not just for a paratroopers, but to give pilots and air crews a fighting chance of survival if the enemy shot them down.

Adaline Gray working with a parachute.

Library of Congress

DuPont’s chemists had invented a newfangled synthetic fiber called nylon, and the company thought it might work well for parachutes. Nylon was strong, light, and didn’t tend to mildew, which made it a good fit for military use. But it was a completely new kind of material, developed in the company’s labs in 1931 and only sold to stocking manufacturers since1938 By 1942, DuPont, Pioneer, and a silk manufacturer called Cheney Brothers Company had designed a parachute and tested it by dropping weights out of airplanes, but it wouldn’t be ready to enter military service until it had been tested by a real live human parachutist.

Adeline Gray volunteered. On June 6, 1942, she calmly stepped out of a plane over Brainard Field near Hartford, Connecticut, trusting her life to a not-entirely-proven parachute made from a material mostly used for women’s stockings. She landed flawlessly in front of 50 senior military officers. The parachute worked, and the U.S. military had a replacement for Japanese silk.

Before the war, DuPont sold about 90% of its nylon fibers to stocking manufacturers; by the end of 1942, the U.S. military was buying up nearly all the nylon the company could produce. Most of it went into parachutes or cords to reinforce tires on military vehicles, but it also found its way into flak jackets and glider tow ropes (like the nearly 2600 deployed in Operation Market Garden in September 1944) and aircraft fuel tanks, as well as more mundane but essentially uses like shoelaces, mosquito nets, and hammocks.

And exactly two years later, on June 6, 1944, nylon parachutes helped drop Allied paratroopers onto the soil of France. It’s likely that most of those men had never heard of Adeline Gray, but her courage and competence — and the hard work of many other civilians and military support personnel — had helped get them there. Now the fate of the world was up to them.

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Paratroopers of the Allied arrive on La Manche coast, on June 6,1944 after Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches throughout D-Day.

AFP/Getty Images

75 years ago today, 23,400 Allied paratroopers got out of airplane into the skies over Normandy, France to sign up with the almost 133,000 Allied soldiers storming the beaches. The Allied intrusion of Europe, Operation Overlord, had actually started; within a year of D-Day, the Nazis would be beat and the war in Europe would be over. However the air-borne soldiers who parachuted into France on D-Day may not have actually been geared up for the job if a lady in Connecticut had not made her own dive 2 years previously.

Adeline Gray, at simply 24 years of ages, currently had stories to inform. She had actually invested the years prior to World War 2 as a barnstorming pilot and a a stunt parachutist– potentially the only female in the U.S.who might declare that title in the 1930 s. She likewise ran a parachuting school. In 1942, she worked for the Leader Parachute Business as a parachute rigger and tester, accountable for checking and loading parachutes. Lives remained in Gray’s hands, and she comprehended that much better than the majority of.

Gray’s company had actually just recently signed up with forces with a chemical business called DuPont to deal with a crucial research study job for the war effort. Many parachutes in the early 1940 s were made from silk, which had actually ended up being lighter and more powerful than cotton. However in 1941, the U.S. discovered itself at war with its only silk provider, Japan. The war cut off a flourishing sell silk; the Japanese market informed $70 million worth of product a year to the U.S. simply for stockings, never ever mind parachutes. In 1942, 6 months into a world war, the U.S. frantically required product for parachutes– not simply for a paratroopers, however to offer pilots and air teams a combating possibility of survival if the opponent shot them down.

(**** )(***** )

Adaline Gray dealing with a parachute.

(*********
) Library of Congress(***** )

DuPont’s chemists had actually created a popular artificial fiber called nylon, and the business believed it may work well for parachutes. Nylon was strong, light, and didn’t tend to mildew, that made it an excellent suitable for military usage. However it was a totally brand-new type of product, established in the business’s laboratories in 1931 and just offered to equipping producers given that1938 By 1942, DuPont, Leader, and a silk producer called Cheney Brothers Business had actually created a parachute and evaluated it by dropping weights out of aircrafts, however it would not be all set to get in military service up until it had actually been evaluated by a genuine live human parachutist.

(************ )Adeline Gray offered. On June 6,1942, she calmly got out of an aircraft over Brainard Field near Hartford, Connecticut, trusting her life to a not-entirely-proven parachute made from a product mainly utilized for ladies’s stockings. She landed perfectly in front of 50 senior military officers. The parachute worked, and the U.S. armed force had a replacement for Japanese silk.

Prior to the war, DuPont offered about 90% of its nylon fibers to equipping producers; by the end of 1942, the U.S. armed force was purchasing up almost all the nylon the business might produce. The majority of it entered into parachutes or cables to strengthen tires on military cars, however it likewise discovered its method into flak coats and glider tow ropes (like the almost 2600 released in Operation Market Garden in September 1944) and airplane fuel tanks, along with more ordinary however basically utilizes like shoelaces, mosquito internet, and hammocks.

And precisely 2 years later on, on June 6, 1944, nylon parachutes assisted drop Allied paratroopers onto the soil of France. It’s most likely that the majority of those males had actually never ever become aware of Adeline Gray, however her guts and proficiency– and the effort of numerous other civilians and military assistance workers– had actually assisted get them there. Now the fate of the world depended on them.

” readability =”81
0534914361″ >

.

Paratroopers of the Allied arrive on La Manche coast, on June 6, 1944 after Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches throughout D-Day.

AFP/Getty Images

.

.

75 years ago today, 23, 400 Allied paratroopers got out of airplane into the skies over Normandy, France to sign up with the almost 133, 000 Allied soldiers storming the beaches. The Allied intrusion of Europe, Operation Overlord, had actually started; within a year of D-Day, the Nazis would be beat and the war in Europe would be over. However the air-borne soldiers who parachuted into France on D-Day may not have actually been geared up for the job if a lady in Connecticut had not made her own dive 2 years previously.

Adeline Gray, at simply 24 years of ages, currently had stories to inform. She had actually invested the years prior to World War 2 as a barnstorming pilot and a a stunt parachutist– potentially the only female in the U.S.who might declare that title in the 1930 s. She likewise ran a parachuting school. In 1942, she worked for the Leader Parachute Business as a parachute rigger and tester, accountable for checking and loading parachutes. Lives remained in Gray’s hands, and she comprehended that much better than the majority of.

Gray’s company had actually just recently signed up with forces with a chemical business called DuPont to deal with a crucial research study job for the war effort. Many parachutes in the early 1940 s were made from silk, which had actually ended up being lighter and more powerful than cotton. However in 1941, the U.S. discovered itself at war with its only silk provider, Japan. The war cut off a flourishing sell silk; the Japanese market informed $ 70 million worth of product a year to the U.S. simply for stockings, never ever mind parachutes. In 1942, 6 months into a world war, the U.S. frantically required product for parachutes– not simply for a paratroopers, however to offer pilots and air teams a combating possibility of survival if the opponent shot them down.

.

.

Adaline Gray dealing with a parachute.

Library of Congress

.

.

DuPont’s chemists had actually created a popular artificial fiber called nylon , and the business believed it may work well for parachutes. Nylon was strong, light, and didn’t tend to mildew, that made it an excellent suitable for military usage. However it was a totally brand-new type of product, established in the business’s laboratories in 1931 and just offered to equipping producers given that1938 By 1942, DuPont, Leader, and a silk producer called Cheney Brothers Business had actually created a parachute and evaluated it by dropping weights out of aircrafts, however it would not be all set to get in military service up until it had actually been evaluated by a genuine live human parachutist.

Adeline Gray offered. On June 6, 1942, she calmly got out of an aircraft over Brainard Field near Hartford, Connecticut, trusting her life to a not-entirely-proven parachute made from a product mainly utilized for ladies’s stockings. She landed perfectly in front of 50 senior military officers. The parachute worked, and the U.S. armed force had a replacement for Japanese silk.

Prior to the war, DuPont offered about 90 % of its nylon fibers to equipping producers; by the end of 1942, the U.S. armed force was purchasing up almost all the nylon the business might produce. The majority of it entered into parachutes or cables to strengthen tires on military cars, however it likewise discovered its method into flak coats and glider tow ropes (like the almost 2600 released in Operation Market Garden in September 1944) and airplane fuel tanks, along with more ordinary however basically utilizes like shoelaces, mosquito internet, and hammocks.

And precisely 2 years later on, on June 6, 1944 , nylon parachutes assisted drop Allied paratroopers onto the soil of France. It’s most likely that the majority of those males had actually never ever become aware of Adeline Gray, however her guts and proficiency– and the effort of numerous other civilians and military assistance workers– had actually assisted get them there. Now the fate of the world depended on them.

.