New member with concerns about George ...

[DaveHH]

Described jumping into Normandy as a pathfinder with the 101st. He said that the pilot chopped the power so the plane was in a slow descent, out went the stick and Eddie was the last out at an altitude of about 200', he was the first guy to hit ground. A malfunction and you are dead. He also went into Luzon and onto Corrigador, which he said was like trying to land on a dime. There were 600 Japanese down there too. After the war he went on to do 1500 jumps just for fun. Not me! Bill: Where in the heck would you carry that plate?
I talked to a bunch of old timers who went into Normandy and they had these stupid bags for their weapons attached with a cord. When the chute opened about half of the cords broke and there you were in a war with no weapon. I can't imagine that a 300 ft drop with a hard landing would do an M1 much good.

[Bill Ricca]

I do not know about today, but back in the 1960's the base plate was attached to the reserve parachute, inside a padded web container. As you approached the ground, you flipped a fitting which released the heavy equipment and let it hang down about 10 feet below you, so you do not impact it as you hit the ground.

It worked just fine as the attaching cord was like a heavy sling.

[BrianQ]

It wasn’t/isn’t attached to the reserve parachute but to the “D” ring on the main lift webs. The same place the reserve parachute attaches.

The lowering line is made of 15’ of 1” tubular nylon, 10’ for M.F.F. operations.

[emmagee1917]

....those bags were a massive screw up from on high. You never hear about THAT because of CYA at the highest levels. The bags were developed and tested by the British. They used them and liked them , so someone heard of them and got them for our guys. Here's the scoop.

1) Our boys recieved NO instruction on thier attachment , weight limits , use , or how to work the drop line brake.
2) Our boys never jumpped with them in training
3) Our boys loaded them with 60+ lbs of gear usually , they were designed for what - 30-40 lbs max , IIRC
4) They were high alt. units . You jumped with it attached , got yourself situated , loosened the bag , dropped it slowly down using the hand brake , stopped when deployed , then picked your landing site.
Our boys dropped way too low that night for these to even have been considered. No time at all between jump and landing for these things.
Chris

[stickhauler]

Funny you should say that. My third jump in Jump School (June 1964) was an equipment jump, as usual. Naturally the smallest guy in the stick got the 81mm Mortar Base Plate and that was me.
It worried the heck out of me, but the jump turn out to be perfect. Something I will never forget.

My third (yes, same as yours, I was the little guy and got the base plate too), went well. The 4th, we jumped with high ground winds, I landed, ALMOST got the chute collapsed, when a 15 MPH gust came through the drop zone. It re-opened my chute, and before I could get it released, it dragged me through a briar patch into a big old rock. I hit it a ton, dislocated my collar bone.

I spent 4 hours getting briars pulled out of me,they said there was nothing they could do for my collarbone, it just had to heal on it's own. They put me on a"profile" that I couldn't jump my final jump until it healed. Sadly, the profile didn't state that I couldn't do PT, or run. It took me another 8 days until I could do my last jump. The off to beautiful Fort Polk for AIT, and a month en-route to Oakland for shipment to RVN.

[DaveHH]

If you had just listened to your DI when he said "They are the same as us except they ride to work".
Sincerely
A former Leg

[painter777]

I've enjoyed reading about all of your jumpers exploits, very interesting.
Makes for a nice opportunity to say Thank You for your service.
But just to 'Jump' back towards the OP's topic.... I never have.... but I'd sure love to pack a chute for George !

LOL,
Charlie-painter777
Enjoy your Weekend

[stickhauler]

I've enjoyed reading about all of your jumpers exploits, very interesting.
Makes for a nice opportunity to say Thank You for your service.
But just to 'Jump' back towards the OP's topic.... I never have.... but I'd sure love to pack a chute for George !

LOL,
Charlie-painter777
Enjoy your Weekend

I'll help you Charlie. Now granted, it's been a lot of years since I packed one, but if it didn't work for his first jump, all he'd have to do is bring it back and we could try again. At no additional charge.

[TDH]

I agree with Painter send my gratitude to all you jump jockeys. I personally could figure out why anyone would WANT to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft let along with a 80 # chunk of steel attached to me as well. I once asked an ex Air Force pilotabout that jumping stuff and he said not to ask him. He said he didn't even jump out of a perfectly bad one.

Anyways thanks again guys I salute you.

[Bill Ricca]

It wasn’t/isn’t attached to the reserve parachute but to the “D” ring on the main lift webs. The same place the reserve parachute attaches.

Correct. It goes to show what 46 years will do the the memory part of the brain.