‘Rupert’ is one of the dummy paratroopers which were dropped over German-occupied France in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Made from burlap and weighted with sand, these were intended to serve as a distraction during the D-Day landings.
The dummy will feature in Milestone’s auction of militaria, weapons and firearms on January 24-25 in Willoughby, Ohio, with an estimate of $6000-9000.