WWII parachute wedding dress with life-saving history on display at Long Island museum

A wedding dress made from a World War II parachute — and tied to an extraordinary story of survival — is now on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York.

The gown was created from the silk parachute carried by Air Corps Lieutenant George Braet during the war. Though never deployed, the parachute is believed to have saved his life when flak pierced his B-17 bomber during a 1944 mission over Europe. The metal fragments struck the parachute attached to him, preventing serious injury.

After returning home, Braet kept the parachute — and when he married his wife Evelyn in 1945, she had her wedding dress made from the silk that protected him.

The couple remained married for more than 60 years, raising five children and building a lasting family legacy. Their daughter says the dress represents not only their love story, but also creativity and resilience at a time when materials like silk were scarce.

Museum leaders say the exhibit reflects their mission to highlight the human stories behind aviation history. While the museum features aircraft and spacecraft, it also preserves personal items that reveal the emotional impact of war and the lives shaped by it.

The parachute dress will remain on display through February 22, with plans for future showings.

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