American Paratroopers In World War II Only Wore Yellow Gloves For A Strange Reason

On June 6, 1944, more than 13,000 American paratroopers were dispatched behind enemy lines, part of the Allies’ plans to liberate France. And for the men involved, it must’ve been a terrifying ordeal. Loaded down with weapons and supplies, they waited to leap out of the planes — and into an uncertain future below.

In the ensuing chaos, hundreds of paratroopers lost their lives — and over a thousand were reported missing. But their sacrifice was not for nothing. The defeated Germans were dealt a crippling blow that decimated their forces and left their plans to conquer Europe in disarray. And less than a year later, they surrendered, finally ending the long and brutal war. Deep in the turmoil of D-Day, though, such an outcome was far from guaranteed.

In fact, the paratroopers could only guess what awaited them thousands of feet below on the battlefields of France. They were certainly equipped for all eventualities, though, with everything from American candy to explosives stashed about their persons. But what was the story behind their distinctive yellow gloves? The answer might well surprise you.

Throughout history, most great conflicts have been fought on land and sea. After all, the Romans conquered much of the world without aircraft and England’s navy crushed the Spanish Armada more than 300 years before humans first took to the skies. But with the arrival of World War I, everything changed.

Not long after the beginning of the conflict, airplanes — still a relatively new invention — were utilized purely as a source of reconnaissance. But before long, engineers on both sides were strapping machine guns to their planes, creating aerial weapons capable of destroying targets below. And by 1917 an entirely new avenue of warfare had emerged.

Late in 1918 World War I concluded, though not before brave pilots such as the Red Baron had soared their way into the history books for good. And the role of airborne forces in global conflicts was just beginning. In the years that followed, countries such as America, Germany, and the U.K. each began to develop their own fleets of military aircraft.

Then, in September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, kickstarting World War II and instigating a global conflict the likes of which had never been seen before. Up above, Allied forces battled the mighty Luftwaffe for command of the skies. Meanwhile, on the ground entire cities were devastated by aerial bombing campaigns.

But it wasn’t just weapons that these aerial forces sought to deploy. Some years previously, Winston Churchill had suggested the development of airborne units, ready to parachute behind enemy lines and wreak havoc wherever they landed. During peacetime, these plans had been shelved but they were revived by the Russians during the mid-1930s.

In 1936 the first ever exercise involving paratroopers unfolded above Kiev, which was then part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. As representatives from other nations looked on admiringly, more than 1,000 Russian soldiers jumped from planes above the city, deployed parachutes, and landed safely at their intended destination. Bizarrely, though, the Russians failed to utilize these so-called “locust warriors” during World War II.

By 1938, though, the Germans had caught up, having trained bands of paratroopers to aid in their campaign to dominate Europe. And in March of that year they deployed these new fighters as part of their efforts to conquer Austria. Parachuting into Wagram’s airbase, they quickly secured the facility, helping to secure the country as a whole.

A year later, the conflict developed into all-out war. And in mid-1940 the Germans deployed paratroopers once more, this time as part of Operation Weserübung, their successful campaign to invade Norway and Denmark. That same month, aerial forces were also used to capture strategic locations in Belgium and the Netherlands, making them a force to be reckoned with across Europe.

Back in Britain, Churchill began to push once more for a dedicated parachute corps. And late in 1940 the first successful jumps were made, with 50 paratroopers deploying safely from bombers. On the other side of the Atlantic, a specialist school was funded to help create America’s own aerial army.

But as the Allies were developing their aerial forces, Germany continued to deploy its own paratroopers to devastating effect. During a single day in May 1941 some 10,000 men parachuted onto the island of Crete, launching the first major airborne assault the planet had ever seen. And though they met with fierce resistance, the German forces eventually emerged victorious.

The Germans’ successful conquest of Crete, though, came at a price. Reeling from heavy losses, leaders felt that their paratroopers had lost the element of surprise. And from that point onwards, they scaled back the role of these aerial forces on the frontline. The Allies, on the other hand, were just getting started.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched an assault on Pearl Harbor that dragged the United States officially into the war. In response, millions of American soldiers were deployed to the battlefields of Europe, including thousands of newly trained paratroopers. Fewer than three years later, many of them would play a decisive role in the Normandy Landings, otherwise known as D-Day.

With war still raging across Europe, the Allies decided to mount an invasion across the English Channel. And after deliberately spreading misinformation to confuse the Germans, more than 150,000 troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, intent on liberating France. At the time, it was the biggest naval invasion ever seen — but the soldiers didn’t just come by sea.

In fact, the first Americans to arrive in occupied France were paratroopers, members of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions. Under the cover of darkness, early in the morning of June 6, 1944, they parachuted into Normandy, hoping to lay the groundwork for the imminent invasion. And even though they achieved limited success at first, their efforts ultimately helped to defeat the Germans.

Though the outcome of D-Day turned the tide of the war, things were far from over. Three months later, the British and Americans sought to carve a route through the occupied Netherlands and into Northern Germany. And as before, airborne forces were dispatched to deal the first blows of the operation.

Again, the American paratroopers fought bravely, helping to capture the cities of Nijmegen and Eindhoven. And as the war began to reach its end, the troops prepared themselves to tackle the Axis powers on several fronts. But on May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered, leaving the airborne forces to turn their hands to occupation instead.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and the American paratroopers who served in World War II are still remembered with admiration. But what was everyday life like for these men, who’d often traveled far from home at a very young age? As with much of the conflict, it was an uncertain time and the troops needed to be adequately prepared.

According to the Public Broadcasting Service, American paratroopers in World War II would’ve carried around 70 pounds’ worth of supplies — with another 20 on top for officers. Add in the parachute as well and they typically carried their own body weight plus another 100 pounds. But despite these burdens, they needed to move fast.

Because they never knew what they might encounter on the ground, the paratroopers were equipped for all eventualities. In their packs, they carried a rifle, ammunition, and grenades, as well as a pistol, a compass, and emergency flares. In their pockets, they stashed first aid kits, knives, and any personal belongings they couldn’t bear to leave behind.

Their uniforms, it seems, were designed to allow the paratroopers to carry as much as possible into enemy territory — without sacrificing their stealthy arrival. Known as the M42 Parachute Jumper, their outfits consisted of a matching coat and trousers, each boasting several pockets for holding supplies. And instead of shoes, they wore jump boots to protect their ankles when they landed.

Perhaps the most distinctive parts of the paratroopers’ uniform, though, were their famous yellow gloves. In fact, these items — and their unusual hue — made it easy for anyone to identify the airborne forces at a glance. After all, no other soldiers wore such a bright color. But what was the story behind these unexpectedly garish accessories?

On the surface, at least, the gloves served a practical purpose. Given the dangerous nature of parachuting into enemy territory — and navigating a safe landing in unknown terrain — exposed areas such as the hands required extra protection. And so the paratroopers, along with armored units and soldiers who worked with ropes, were assigned these accessories.

But where did these gloves come from — and why were they dyed such a vibrant color? Well, as it turns out, they weren’t. Instead, they were made from rawhide, a type of untanned leather that can appear yellow if seen from far away. And that isn’t the end of the story.

According to reports, the saga of the yellow gloves actually began during World War I, long before the early paratroopers ever took their first leaps of faith. Back then, you see, a lot of warfare was conducted on horseback. And as a result, units were often supplied with plenty of related equipment, such as handling gloves.

But then things changed. As inventions such as the tank permanently altered the face of combat, the horse quickly fell out of favor. And by the time that World War II arrived, their use was purely ceremonial. As resources were diverted away from animal handlers and towards other, more modern, avenues, the redundant accessories were all but forgotten.

Next, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and America was catapulted into the war earlier than many had imagined. Though the writing had been on the wall for months, factories in the U.S. hadn’t yet begun manufacturing war supplies on a grand scale. And as a result, some American units struggled to find equipment as they were shipped overseas.

As the military scrabbled for a solution, reports state, the old horse-handling equipment resurfaced. And from the dusty crates came tens of thousands of pairs of rawhide gloves. Though they weren’t perfect, they offered decent protection for units engaged in particularly physical tasks. The paratroopers, with their risky method of deployment, were among those offered first refusal.

Donning this makeshift protection, entire units of paratroopers leaped from planes over Europe and into the worst conflict that our planet has ever seen. On the battlefield, their yellow-tinged rawhide gloves marked them out from other soldiers. And even now, nearly 80 years after D-Day, this distinctive quirk’s associated with the aerial troops of World War II.

So today, the yellow gloves remain a powerful symbol of World War II. In fact, there are several companies offering faithful reproductions for around $25 a piece. And original pairs sometimes appear at auctions, where they fetch hundreds of dollars as coveted collectors’ items — making them far more valuable than standard issue items from the same era.

As for the paratroopers themselves, the gloves helped many of them to survive the tough conditions of the battlefield — though hundreds of those soldiers would never make it home. After the war, America’s airborne forces continued to adapt and evolve, which meant the gloves were soon replaced with newer models. But their image has remained etched in history.

Moving forwards, America didn’t forget the crucial role that paratroopers had played in World War II. And the military continued to utilize airborne forces in conflicts across the globe. Months after joining the Korean War, for example, U.S. parachute units were deployed all over the conflict zone, blocking off escape routes to China in the north.

Later, during the Vietnam War, American soldiers took to low-flying helicopters in order to navigate the thick jungle terrain. And soon, the image of these airborne troops became an iconic symbol of the brutal conflict. In reality, though, U.S. forces conducted very few combat jumps on Vietnamese soil.

In the 1980s the U.S. deployed paratroopers once more during the invasions of Grenada and Panama. And in 1994 their presence in Haiti helped to convince dictator Raoul Cédras to step down. Later, after 9/11, the landscape of warfare changed — but aerial forces continued to play a significant role in combat overseas.

Today, there are some who argue against the training of further paratroopers, pointing to the benefits of using helicopter-based forces in their place. But parachute units are still deployed around the world, suggesting that their usefulness is far from over. And thanks to their tactical advantages on the battlefield, airborne troops are likely to be around for a while yet.

Their uniforms, though, have come a long way since the days of repurposed riding gloves. In the 21st century paratroopers’ gloves are crafted from modern, tactical fabrics that are designed to provide protection in all circumstances. And unlike the equipment doled out to U.S. soldiers in World War II, they’ve actually been designed for their intended purpose.

These modern gloves, though, while practical, are unlikely to earn the kind of fame enjoyed by their World War II counterparts. But what is it about these historical relics that’s captured the imagination for so many years? Was it simply their incongruous brightness on the battlefield — or something more intangible?