This is a lot of three books,  Paratrooper, Meet the Paratrooper / Paratroopers, Too Rely on Reliance Quality, World War II Troop Type Parachutes: Axis.

Paratrooper – 1st edition, 1954.  Signed by the authors.  Published by The Military Service Publishing Company.  Inscribed to “one ‘trooper’ to another” dated 1954.

This book details the process from boot camp to training to deployment.  Features historical text and great photographs.

Condition:  Good, All pages present, minor wear, spine cover has detached from spine.

Meet the Paratrooper / Paratroopers, Too Rely On Reliance Quality / Parachute Troops U.S.A

This is a very interesting piece.  The cover title is Meet the Paratrooper.  Title page is Paratroopers, Too  Rely on Reliance Quality.  At the bottom of the title page is THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF PARACHUTE TROOPS U.S.A. IS FURNISHED WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF RELIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

This appears to have been a promotional/propaganda copy given to the paratrooper.  We could find only one other copy of this title but that featured a different cover and was probably intended for the general public.

This copy is green cover with the 82nd Airborne decal on the front.  Whether that is original to the book or was applied later is unknown.  This book details the making of parachutes by the Reliance Manufacturing Company to their issue and use by the paratrooper.

From the history inside this was most likely published in 1944.  This book has extensive photographs as it presents as a “photo story”.  A very fascinating and unique bit of WWII ephemera showing the cooperation of private industry with the U.S. Military.  A very unique piece.

Condition:  Very Good, All pages present, minor wear, some yellowing on cover backing pages.

World War II Troop Type Parachutes: Axis – Schiffer Military Publishing, 2000

A reference book detailing the Parachutes of the Axis powers with detailed history and photos.

Condition:  Very good, like new.

Dimensions:

Paratrooper – 10 3/4 x 10 1/4 x 1/2

Meet the Paratrooper – 11 1/8 x 9 1/8 x 1/2

World War II Troop Type Parachutes – 11 x 8 1/2 x 1/2