That actually sounds like a plot point from the novel/movie Catch-22. One of the US airmen is stealing the Parachute to sell the silk on the black market. He puts IOUs in to replace them.Without meaning to sound like I'm making a false equivalency, apparently in the Italian campaign in WW2, because silk was valuable, someone in the US military was stealing parachutes, and I thinking putting other stuff in the packs to make up the weight and size.
I've not been able to find out more about this, though there was loads of corruption there (which makes it hard to find), but...the bastard.
I have no idea if they're based off an actual occurrence but that would make it even more interesting. Also, Catch 22 is an interesting Read/Watch if you think you'd enjoy military Dark Comedy.