Historical WW II Parachute Building

Historical world war two Parachute Building. . , The Parachute Building is listed as a National Historical site since 22 April 2009. Restoration on the B-29 Museum is funded by the Kansas Historical Society. Original construction started in November 1942. The building was completed by May 1943 for the air field open house and official dedication. Its purpose was for inspecting, packing, and repairing parachutes for B-29 crews that were to be trained to fly B-29's to defeat Japan during World War II. , The building has two sections , a 40-foot tall parachute loft and a short, gabled, one-story parachute packing area. The duties performed in the Parachute Building by the 3rd Echelon's Parachute Rigging Department under direction of Lieutenant Joseph Fawell were as important as any others on the base. The unique, long, and tall parachute building served as a facility for the drying, inspections, cleaning and reassembling of parachutes. , Lieutenant Fawell's platoon consisted of seven women and one man. Of the seven women, Private First Class Fernande "Frenchy" Quick and Private Virginia McCoy were members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The lone GI male was Sgt. Harold Southard. Lieutenant Joseph Fawell observes as Harold and Virginia fold a silk portion of a chute. Frenchy is pictured holding the shrouds as their group packs another parachute. The WAC soldiers arrived at PAAF in May of 1944. Civilian workers were equally important in the jobs of the parachute riggers. Three women of PAAFs 3rd Echelon had called Pratt home. The foreman of the civilian workers was Gladys Trekell who held a CAA riggers license and had spent several years as an instructor at the Tyler Parachute School. Her co-workers were hired from Pratt and surrounding towns. , The Parachute Building's design allowed the parachute riggers to inspect the squadron's parachutes and rigging. Every 60 days a complete inspection was performed out of the inclement weather and wind. They checked each chute for stains from gas, oil or grease, and holes or tears. Any hole or tear that was less than twelve inches in length would be repaired. Anything larger, the parachute would have to be exchanged for a replacement. , The monetary value of each chute during early World War II was $163. The materials for which each one consisted of 65 yards of nylon and silk, leather straps, and rings bound by hundreds of feet nylon suspension lines. The design of the Parachute Building was critical for flawless safety inspections. Each chute had four parts: canopy, the silk balloon; pack, shrouds, retainer loops and container; harness, which straps onto the most important part , the guy whose life may depend on the successful operation of the chute. , Text by David Stitt, Virginia Hoover and Jim Bowman , Credit Reference: Giannangelo, Dorthea. Pratt Army Air Field: World War II 1943-1945 Publisher Unknown. 2002. Copy is on file at KSHS Cultural Resources Division , Photos from PAAF Tailwind , Credit Reference: Phillip T. Schulz. , Funded in part by a grant from the Recreational Trails Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism , Sign frame by Pratt Well Service, Skaggs Ace Hardware and B29 Museum , Sign by Lowen Sign, Hutchinson, KS