In parachute landing the feet and knees are supposed to be together and extended. The weapon was in fact running down the leg and that was always a drawback to carrying your weapon that way. Imagine the 1919 Browning MG for instance? Many paratroops dismissed the idea of having their weapon tied up and carried it "ready to fight" in a manner they prefered. Other countries started using the lowering rope so the US forces adopted it also. It too has drawbacks but I would prefer not to land with equipment. Yes, you can get injured that way. Remember, the days of Airborne troops was just in it's infancy and many things needed to be ironed out. It would be better than landing and going to hunt the door bundle your weapon(or any weapon for that matter) was in to arm yourself while under fire on the drop zone.
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