A “RUPERT” paratrooper dummy designed to trick the Germans over the D-Day landings is up for grabs for a possible £6,000.
Around 500 “paradummies” were dropped over Normandy on the night of June 5, 1944, to divert Nazi troops from the real invasion the next day.
Called Ruperts, they had small heads, arms and legs, and were made from hessian cloth filled with sand.
Impossible to distinguish from real paratroopers in the air, they were also designed to explode when they hit the ground in order to hide their presence and purpose.
US forces deployed them too — calling them “Oscars”.
At the same time, thousands of airmen were landing on the correct drop zones, beginning the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe in World War II.
The dummy which has emerged for sale was discovered in a warehouse at an old British airfield in the 1980s.
A private collector acquired it a decade ago and is selling it on Monday at Auctioneum, of Bristol.
The dummy has been given an estimated price of £4,000 to £6,000.
Auctioneer Andy Stowe said: “They were desperate times for our RAF, and any good ideas were rapidly adopted.
“It was such a simple idea – using a dummy to divert attention away from real soldiers – but it undoubtedly saved lives.
“It was a classic example of British ingenuity – simple, but highly effective.
“The tactic of throwing these Rupert dummies out of planes to give the appearance of parachute troops was genius.
“This is such an important piece of military history.”
