Type B-8 parachute

[Tseuh]

Hello,

 

Here are pics of a type B-8 parachute I own.

It is dated March 1944, and everything matches with all other B-8 parachute I've seen.

Everything... but a strange zipper on the back that I've never seen anywhere else.

This zipper is a Crown, and looks completely original to the parachute. No stitch holes anywhere.

 

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to find wartime pictures showing the back of the parachute.

 

Has anyone here already seen this zipper one a B-8 parachute ?

 

Thanks,

 

Tim.

 

PS : I don't know if it's the best place to publish this post, may be "Field gear" would have been better ? Please moderators, forgive me if I'm at the wrong place.

 

 

 

 

[willysmb44]

Very strange, it’s got early war fitting on the harness. Is the harness itself 44 dated or just the container? As for the zipper, I’ve owned, handled and seen plenty of WW2 US parachutes and have a B-8 myself. I’ve never seen one with a zipper. It could just be something I’ve never seen or creative use of a rigger’s time?