Overall, a Voices of the 20th Century sale held by Bonhams New York (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) on December 6 was rather disappointing, with only 100 of 264 lots sold (and only six of the 55 Russian lots). However, among the more curious entries was the 2ft 8in (82cm) high ‘Paradummy’ pictured below left, which sold at $7000 (£5225).
As part of the ‘Titanic’ section of ‘Operation Bodyguard’ – itself part of the ‘Overlord’ D-Day invasion plan – a combined RAF Bomber Command and SAS plan involved some 450 of these dummies, together with real parachutists, being dropped in northern France during the night of June 5 and the morning of D-Day itself.
They were used as a diversionary tactic from the main focus of the Normandy landings. Thirty-minute recordings of battle sounds were also broadcast where the dummies landed, intended to give the impression of a larger force in action.