Canada, Commonwealth. A Royal Canadian Air Force Parachute, By Irving Air Chute Company, C.1942

A parachute pack constructed of khaki canvas. The upper portion of the pack is padded and is marked on the inside in black ink “MANUFACTURED BY IRVIN AIR CHUTE LTD. HAMILTON, ONT, CANADA”. The upper portion bears four beige interwoven straps with metal buckles which all connect in the centre. The straps also bear metal adjustments to fit the pack accordingly with the person wearing it. A thick woven beige strap wraps around the upper portion on the centre left side and bears the buckle fastener. The fastener is inscribed with “TURN TO UNLOCK PRESS TO RELEASE”. The strap bears a metal handle and concealed pull cord. The bottom of the pack contains a rectangular shaped cushion with the centre cut out to allow for a beige woven strap to be threaded through. The cushion has six brown buttons dispersed throughout the seat. It is attached to the parachute pack with four woven strips with metal snaps. The parachute pack is marked in black “IRVIN STANDARD AIR CHUTE Mfg No. 20017 TYPE SEAT. Q.R. Date DEC 22 1942 Mfg. by IRVIN AIR CHUTE, LTD. HAMILTON, ONT. This parachute apparatus, including pack, parachute, hardness and other operating mechanism, made, used, sold and protected under one or more of the following Canadian patents:” with the Irvin Air Chute Company logo. The inside of the parachute pack bears a pocket labelled “INSPECTION AND PACKING DATA”. The pull cord coming from the centre left of the pack attaches to the centre of the parachute pack. The pack is secured with three bungee cords with metal hooks (one of which is snapped). The parachute is white and orange. The total length of the pack is 1000 mm (h) x 480 mm (w). Apparent discolouration and material fatigue due to age and wear, otherwise extremely fine. 

Footnote: In 1919. Leslie Leroy Irvin was the first person to make a premeditated free-fall parachute jump. Two months after his jump he established the Irving Air Chute Company in Buffalo, New York, making him the first parachute designer and manufacturer. By the Second World War, Irvin parachutes were being utilized by 45 different countries. This particular parachute was manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario and probably utilized by the Royal Canadian Air Force. 

Provenance Footnote: Deaccessioned from the Museum Collection of the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

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