Mindful of the strain on the Exchequer, during World War II the British Army managed to save about £20 sterling (about $1,000 in 1994 dollars) per soldier by the simple expedient of not issuing reserve parachutes to its airborne troops. A useful side effect of this parsimony was that British paratroopers could carry more equipment into action. On the other hand, the British did supply their airborne forces with an item useful during the sometimes rough flights to their drop zones, special grease-proof paper bags officially called “Bags, for Use of Vomit.” So at least the aeroplanes could return from their missions relatively clean and the brave lads could go into action with unsoiled uniforms. Or at least those who made it to the ground in one piece.
