Inside a T72 Tank Turret

[Ovidio]

I did skydiving already, so that would not have bothered me. I also liked the Paras, but I loved the Alpini and wanted to be one myself. Greatest of decisions ever made, toghether with marrying my wife!

[browningautorifle]

trusting in a parachute

That was different though, it was a serviceable parachute.

I loved the Alpini and wanted to be one myself

Me too, took the training and was listed to go over to the school in Italy and climb Monte Bianco. I was promoted and had to stay to prove myself on the next field exercise. Missed out...

[Ovidio]

I remember you telling this. What a pity…

[CINDERS]

Jim.............................or trusting in a parachute either

Gil its not the fall that kills you if the chute fails, its the abrupt stop at the end of said fall.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

And, as several military and civilian parachute types have reminded me: there is no such thing as a "PERFECTLY good aircraft"

Still, abseiling from helicopters hovering over trees seemed "exciting" enough.

[old tanker]

I remember having the airborne qualified types taking umbrage when teaching how much lead was required to engage paratroopers with a coax machine gun. After they got done whining about the Geneva convention and all that, they were reminded that the stricture against shooting people in parachutes was for abandoning aircrew. Their airplane is broke. If the airplane is not broke, you can shoot at the people who willingly jump out of it.

[Ovidio]

I remember having the airborne qualified types taking umbrage when teaching how much lead was required to engage paratroopers with a coax machine gun. After they got done whining about the Geneva convention and all that, they were reminded that the stricture against shooting people in parachutes was for abandoning aircrew. Their airplane is broke. If the airplane is not broke, you can shoot at the people who willingly jump out of it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fig68gif-1.jpg

Also, the Paratroopers should not shoot down at people, a thing the Warsaw Pact troops were taught to do, if I'm not wrong...
Actually, I remembered that thing about not shooting at Paratroopers too, but we too were told how to aim at them...
Still, with all due respect, I have never understood how people can really believe that those who fight, kill, maim and get killed, and maimed will all behave in a humane or fair way.
What is fair? Humane? To wait for an enemy to get dangerous to you and your comrades is fair or humane? Or is it plain stupid?
If you were prohibited to shoot at Paratroopers while they are coming down, would any of us really wait until they touch ground before shooting the hell out of them?
Also, many other military operations just won't allow troops to take prisoners, e.g. reconnaissance or combat patrols...
What is a war crime really?
What I consider criminal (shooting prisoners, for example) is something I might have ordered to do (or done myself in case of need) if I had found myself as patrol leader (which was one of the things we trained most) in enemy territory.
Shooting civilians, that is something I would consider criminal under any law, but are we sure there is no situation where something like that is in some ways necessary?
All the talk now about the war in Ukraine sounds so phoney to me...
They are butchering themselves there. What is a legit target, which actions are morally reprehensible? Only those who fight can tell it.
And the Lord when their time will come...

[old tanker]

Just to make everyone mad, in the same class a Marine asked how much lead should be used if the parachute didn't open.

[CINDERS]

I think every class has one old tanker.

Ovidio ~ I think in the case of war from what I have learned is morality goes right out the window, if one is to win then the Queensbury rules get torn up.
The saddest part of the whole dam thing at the moment is we will never learn there will always be aggressors and societies that defy aggressors for the sake of humanity there is plenty for all on this rock but history shows us that sadly we are doomed to repeat acts of war or terrorism.

[Gil Boyd]

They knew the risks in 1940 when they completed their training at RAF Ringway (Manchester Airport today) and joined the Regiment and Airborne Units, with the knowledge that Hitlers Order to EXECUTE ALL Parachutists was at the top of the agenda.
As they did in ALL the Airborne operations that followed, with many being slaughtered from the ground like a turkey shoot at Ginkel Heath, near Arnhem as they fell in their hundreds!!
Thats the risk and why we jump now at 200 feet operationally. The less time you have in the air raises your chances of survival, but NOT a lot of time to jettison your container below you!!