My grandfather jumped in the big ones in WWII (from Italy to Germany), in the 82 Airborne. Even decades later, he didn't feel like talking about what he went through, even to his family. He died surrounded by his family in a random hospital in Florida in the mid 90s. I was a small kid then... only as I got older did I realize what soldiers went through back then. They are real American heroes.
My Uncles who fought in WW2 also never talked about it. That's how I tell who's been in combat. Those who talk up a storm about it, probably have never been in it.
Graduated in November 1973. Not much had changed from the training depicted in this video. Did 4 years in the 82nd Airborne Division and served with some fine men, who are still lifelong friends. I wish I was still in the same physical shape. Most of us have bad lower back and knees now. But I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Airborne!
@@EddieLeal We remained "qualified" and could wear the wings even if not assigned to an airborne unit. While assigned to an airborne unit, we had to average a jump every 30 days to continue receiving hazardous duty pay (jump pay).
I watched the whole thing is aww. Seeing all the similarities and differences between then and when i went through. Its just beautiful site seeing old school paratroopers and reason why i was able to become a paratrooper myself.
I went in 1988 D Co "The Rock". It was not much different than this. Except we counted to 4. I had to do BAR for Ranger School at Fort Benning. The 34 foot towers were actually pretty fun when your not an Airborne School student.
@@dirtydave2691 i was A Co in April 2012, now that I'm out and not an ignorant 21 year old kid, now when i get a chance to learn about how paratroopers did things before me it always amazes me. I had fun during my 3 weeks of airborne school. Only thing that sucked when i was there was the swing landing trainer, that hurt more than the opening shock did
@@Random_Cali_Boy The First Sergeant "Airborne" took over for a few landings when I was on the swing landing trainer. He kept letting go on the wrong swing for the PLF he called out. "Right front PLF Airborne" and would let got for a left rear....OOMMF. I don't suppose CSM Catterton was the Sergeant Major when you went was he? He is an old friend of mine.
@@dirtydave2691 lol thankfully that didn't happen to me, honestly have no idea, when i went through i had been in the army for 2 years already and gotten into trouble with my unit at Bragg so while i was there the only thing i focused on was proving i was a good soldier. I didn't pay attention to much unless i was talking to an instructor or other nco that was a student with me. Also my memory is horrible when it comes to names
when I found this I had to watch. I was a Paratrooper in the 90's, stationed on Ft. Bragg. Had a great time even my very last jump, my 18th one, were I was picked up by the wind and slammed down, suspension lines wrapped around my ankle and dragged down the DZ. Ended up breaking my ankle and would be my last jump. I now sit around remembering the many times I jumped out of perfectly good aircraft.
@@noone-gh4dw Well, Operations wise it is not the huge wars these days like WW2 like in Band of Brothers, just mostly smaller wars like I was in as Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan. Mostly foot patrol or riding in/on Armored Personnel Carriers but with a group of guys that are EASILY remembered the rest of your life as BROTHERS!!
@@noone-gh4dw Yes Airborne are used in most every war, and more than 1 operation in Vietnam there is a documentary on that here on RUclips watch it it's 27 minutes and then after tell me what you think!! Screaming Eagles in Vietnam | The 101st Airborne Division | US Army Documentary | 1967
I graduated in 7/62 enroute to 1st SFG on Okinawa. Studying the landmarks, it looks like Stage A and B were tucked in at the bottom of the hills on the west side of Lawson Air Field. The 250' towers used in Stage C appear to be in the same place as today, between OCS and MCE (although 1 of the free towers is missing - long before my time). The monkey bars are also gone! The training is essentially the same because the need for training to deal with the hazards are still the same. The one BIG change is the attention to safety (PLF techniques, the redundancy of all buckle and straps connections, the improved canopies and deployment systems, and the shock-aborbing helmets). I made over 300 jumps and never had to use the reserve, but I did get a few bumps and scrapes along the way to build into 'war stories.' (Trivia - Why 34' towers? ...The towers were built on top of standard 40' telephone poles buried 6' in the ground.)
These were really elite soldiers back in the day and today. If you don't believe me, just sign up for an Airborne Contract. Airborne School will make you a believer. As a Paratrooper you will be guaranteed to be injured a few times during your time in your Airborne unit that you are in. Be it Infantry, Artillery, or any supporting arm in an Airborne division or just a support unit responsible for parachute drops. I have respect for all folks who jumps out of an airplane or any aircraft in the US Military. You did as I did during my time in service. This is beyond what your body takes you in your time when serving. Military Static Line Parachuting is worse than making an aircraft carrier landing because your own body and soul is involved in a crash landing every time. Never forget this Brothers and Sisters of the Airborne World.
Thank you my friend, I went threw jump training in 1977, and enjoy all of it, just to know after my training I was one of the army’s elite soldier made very proud, again thank you.
Basically very similar to training in 1972 although in 72 it was only a three week course. Some differences I can see. One, I do not recall any training on the body twist. This looks like a very useful canopy technique to avoid coming in backwards. While it would have been very useful with the T-10, the MC1-1 could be manipulated with the toggles to accomplish the same thing I guess. Also, these early chutes were not equipped with the Capewell canopy quick releases which makes collapsing the chute in windy conditions after landing a much easier affair. We did not spend much time practicing the techniques shown in this film. Lastly, the 250’ tower exercise was a one time affair. We did not do the “sissy chair” or the “tethered” drop. All we did was the freed chute drop and it was done only one time.
I went through the Ft. Benning Airborne School at age 40 in 1980. Yes, I was somewhat older than those I ran with. My 6-1/2 years in the 389th MI Co of the 11th SFGP and a total of 193 jumps including some sport jumping I started in 1970 in Australia. Parachutes have come a long way since these riser slip flat rounds that could and would oscillate to some rough landings, even my reserves were steerable and I only broke one ankle in Austria for hooking a Para-commander too close to the ground--showing off. I wouldn't trade my logbook of memories for anything even though in reality it is worth nothing.
When I did Airborne training at Fort Benning, GA in early 1986, it was a three week course (ground week, tower week, and jump week). Things certainly changed from the 1940's. We didn't have turning drills and landing backwards was just fine. I certainly enjoyed the 34 foot (10 meter) tower during tower week.
During World War 2 Your MOS and Parachute training were together plus you were trained to pack your own parachute. A good example of this would be to watch the first episode of "Band of Brothers".
@Retloch Class 39-87 here - check who signed your graduation certificate if you still have it - mine was signed by (then COL) Barry McCaffrey, Commandant of the Airborne School. He commanded 24th Mech ID in Desert Storm, and retired as a 4-star, and is a talking head on TV these days. Fun stuff.
When I went through in Aug/Sept ‘83 we had ground week, tower week, jump week. I’m 6’ 5” and had trouble making graceful PLFs. It was easier jumping at night because I couldn’t see the ground very well and landed more relaxed. We also jumped from UH-1 helicopters a lot, sitting I’m the floor and just pushing with your arms into space. Somehow that was scarier because you saw the ground the whole time. Only made 16 jumps, but I’ve never been prouder of anything that I did in the military. It gave me confidence in myself that I’d been lacking. Still have a set of wings on my night stand and I’m 63.
Graduated ABN School in AUG 1986. Yes 3 weeks. we were the first class to do the Airborne Walk, so we skipped tower week. That week all we did was drill and ceremony. Not a bad deal.
Thanks for posting. Graduated the BAC in Jan 77. I would estimate 65% of the training and techniques were the same as in this film. One of the differences that stood out to me was the exit technique. We were taught to jump straight out the door on C-130s and bring our feet and knees together. Up 6 inches and out 16 inches. I think. How they pivoted out the door on their left foot always looked wrong to me when watching footage of WW II jumps. But now I know that was how they were trained. Now I think they are taught to walk out the door at a 45 degree angle with no jump or bunny hop, like I was trained to do when jumping a C-141.
@clmccomas That, and there were no PLFs back then. Just feet, ass, head, I guess. Which is pretty much your PLF most of the time anyway. I was snowbirding at Benning before Ranger School in 1990, and the 50th anniversary of the Airborne was going on. I got to meet and shake hands with some guys from the original test platoon. I was in awe of those dudes.
...I jumped with some instructor on my back in California.... I see things here that fill in lots of things that were going on in that jump..... I got into the free fall so much, I almost forgot to pull the string to open the parachute.... He reminded me.....We had about five or ten minutes of training, and that was my first experience or knowledge of parachuting..... Slipping was a lot of fun...We just ran from a standing landing.....That was over twenty five years ago....I wish I had these military earlier....They are great....Seems like with the extensive training these young men got, didn't require an instructor on there back...
Much of what I did in 1969 is present in this video. The landing process was a little different , called theParachute Landing fall or PLF. It served the same purpose, being able to walk after landing! I don't think we did the two seat drop thing, but he free towers were identical to these. I think the chutes were better or at least bigger and the harness seemed to be the same. The exit stances were different for different planes as well. We jumped C-119s and C-141. So from a WWII prop to a modern jet you had to do it a bit differently. Jump school was physically demanding, but mostly running which I did easily. Jumping was fun and I never jumped again. I did however collect jump pay while a LRRP in Vetnam.
I was a rigger 69-71 you might have jumped one of my chutes. Only one guy that I know of was hurt jumping one of my chutes. He landed in the back of a jeep in a rice Patty in Korea. He broke his back. It was determined that his chute functioned fine, was his landing in the jeep that caused his injuries. I was permitted to continue packing chutes.
It was a good idea to come up with a song to remember what to do when you jump out of a perfectly good aircraft. . Its actually a cadence call. It's called "C-130" after the aircraft. "If my main dont open wide, I got a reserve by my side." Of course they couldn't just end the song there,."If that one should fail me too, look out below I'm coming through." 😧 🤣
@EDDIE LEAL “If that one don’t open round - I’ll be the first trooper to the ground!” Funniest moment from Airborne School: Blackhat through megaphone to ‘stud’ on the 250’ tower. You’d better not make me have to climb up there and cut you down, Airborne, ‘cause I’M SCARED OF HEIGHTS!” 😂🤣😂
Herbert "Shorty" Stark trained the first paratroops in WWII. Prior to the war, Shorty was a star attraction in Tex Rankin's air show, and held five world records at one point.
Some of these training exercises are straight out of the text book from the german Fallschirmjager training they employed since they were the first combat airborne formations in world war two
I wasn't in the military, but I remember going to a private jump school in eastern Pennsylvania in the 80s. They didn't give you anywhere near the training that the Army does before jumping! (I jumped with an Army chute out of a Cessna at about 2000 feet.) First day, you went to classroom training. Second day, you jumped off a 10-foot high platform, then from the back of a pick-up truck moving about 8 MPH. Next day, you went out of the plane. My mistake was that I didn't have my knees bent when I hit, and it felt like a sledgehammer on my lower back. I landed in a cornfield just outside the drop zone. They had to send an ambulance to pick me up. Moral: never jump out of a perfectly good airplane just for fun. It's not as good as sex, and much more dangerous. 😶🌫
When you see some of the training methods in these old training films it makes you wonder what the health and safety gremlins would say, or if they would be just apoplectic with rage, but then, back in the war years, men were men and did what was needed to win.
That's right -- men were men and women were women. It is almost like there is/was a conspiracy to destroy men's ability to do anything now. Over the decades, media has been pushing the narrative that men (especially white men) are bumbling fools that can't grocery shop, or even wash clothes.
In time of War, there is a natural relaxing of "health and safety" regulations, if you have to graduate 1000's or 10's of thousands thru a course in multiple years... I am an Airborne Vet myself, the training I received in the late 1980's would KILL Snowflakes today...
You'd think that, but the reality is pretty much the opposite--it's in the instructors' interest to make training as safe as reasonably possible to ensure no mishaps, and this was as true in 1943 as it is today. The fact is, safer training produces more and better parachutists; a man who's had his eye gouged out or fingers crushed during a training exercise isn't going to be much use in combat. Regulations are written in blood.
In hindsight, there is glaringly obvious omission in this training film. None of the paratroops are shown jumping with actual combat packs. I know this is basic training but it would have made sense to get the troops used to carrying full packs right from the start (and getting help from instructors to fix mistakes). Ambrose in his book Band of Brothers reports that the veterans of Easy Company said they dropped like stones on D Day with all the extra weight. Hindsight is always 20 20.
My Dad and 2 Uncles were drafted into the Army during early WW2 ( 1 Infantry- my dad, 1 Medic and 1 Transportation) and to them the Airborne were cutthroats, evil, dirty thugs, and the underbelly of men just released from prison. That was the thing and saying back then; that was the way it was. My family, and plenty of Americans lived the rest of their lives believing that. When I volunteered in 1986 and became an Infantry paratrooper my family was horrified. They thought I was going to be killed by the "cuthroats" that made up the Airborne infantry. The fact that I loved it and did so well further encouraged them to think I descended into that ugly lifestyle. My Airborne tatoo I got, cemented this. They all worried I would either be killed or descend into that gang culture of those dirty men. Oh Horrors! I had a blast, combat twice, hated it, and never became an evil cut throat. My dad eventually got over it....I think.
I think of the poor guys who got killed by enemy fire in the air, hung up on a tree or building, broken necks and backs, and so on . But then again, on the ground infantry was just as brutal and deadly or maimed for life . btw , there was a feature movie made near the end or after ww2 . It was about veterans who came home with disabilites . One of the actors was an actual ww2 veteran soldier who lost his two forearms and hands in the war . back then he had the two hook like prothesis for hands . anyone know the name of that movie ? please, andy and all, replies !
I was a rigger and used to tell the mp's that came to get me out of jail, that I was going to pack a"special" chute for them on their next jump. Sometimes it got me out of trouble. They had no idea that we couldn't do that. We packed 30 chutes a day, and they were just delivered to the airport where they had thousands of chutes to pass out. EVERY chute was inspected before given to a trooper.
12:26 soldier in white t-shirt to your left . Looks like a young Montgomery Clift . In all probability he didn't serve in the military in any capacity . Although during ww2 when there was a need for more personnel the military relaxed it's screening criteria . Liz Taylor said once Clift was the man she loved the most in her life . When she found out he was gay she remained close friends with him .
@@jassack8498 A young William Windom must have been at training during this time but I did not see him in the film. He served in Europe as a Red Devil and he hated heights and planes!
Jimi Hendrix was in the 101st ABN and may have completed jump school. But he hated the Army so much that he psycoed out before he finished his hitch. If you want to look up to someone look up to Lou Rawls 82nd ABN.
Hitler a British agent mi6 , Hitler escaped Germany - Eyewitness report Aubrey M. Temples 82nd Airborne, German POW two-time Purple Heart & Bronze Star w/Valor recipient ... "Why was Hitler allowed to escape , because he did his job" ~ Al Bielek
The impact of paratroops is seriously overstated here. When German troops parachuted into Crete they suffered such horrendous casualties that this tactic ceased to be a factor in that nation's war planning. American paratroops used during D-Day notoriously were dropped miles from their planned attack points and accomplished little to aid the invasion. There are just too many things that can go wrong.
Reread your history and pay better attention to the facts. The Grete operation had so many casualties because A. the Germans landed too close to their objectives and did not carry their weapons with them out the door. B. It was not jump injuries that caused the casualties but prompt response from the defending garrisons,. The objectives were airfields that had to be taken before reinforcements could be flown in. Regardless those objectives were taken. As for the Normandy invasion the jumpers were scattered due to poor visibility and antiaircraft fire. Despite this every objective was taken and the separation was so wide that an extra unexpected advantage was in that the Germans were unable to concentrate their defenses against the airborne assault. Your assertion "accomplished little to aid the invasion" is false. the 82 and 101 Airborne Divisions behind Omaha and Utah Beaches and the 6th British Airborne behind Gold, Juno and Sword prevented German reinforcements from preventing the landings. You may doubt me but I have served in both the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and we learned both the good and bad about Normandy. It's a military process called "Lessons Learned".
Agree with what Dawson says here. The actual casualties amongst both glider and parachute troops was much less than anticipated. The drop behind Utah Beach ensured the beach exits were open to the sea born troops and the scattered drops caused widespread confusion and panic amongst the German defenders. The 101st captured of Carentan was critical to linking the Utah and Omaha forces and opening the road to Cherbourg.
The Fallschirmjager parachute in WWII also had the shroud lines attached directly to the parachute pack. There was very little control of the parachute.
Trust me….. will will drop death with deadly accuracy that is ready to fight with skill and technology right in the enemy’s back yard anywhere in the world in under 18 hrs notice. If we might be shot down today the air force would lead the way to make sure that didn’t happen. We would drop enough bombs to make anyone pull their head in so we can enter. After that we have light armor mobile ground troops with towed artillery pieces that can seize countries with stealth and speed. I was 3-319 Airborne Field Artillery. I wouldn’t wish the 82nd Devil brigade on my worst enemy. Crazy insane blood thirsty soldiers. Love em every one.
Jesus I hope to learn how to put a Shute on before in get into a plane not while in it, Little class room time won't hurt Silver wing ping against there chests these are men AMERICAS best ,
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 KJV Jesus lives Jesus Christ is Lord For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 KJV Jesus loves you repent You're a sinner in need of a Savior That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 KJV
My grandfather jumped in the big ones in WWII (from Italy to Germany), in the 82 Airborne. Even decades later, he didn't feel like talking about what he went through, even to his family. He died surrounded by his family in a random hospital in Florida in the mid 90s. I was a small kid then... only as I got older did I realize what soldiers went through back then. They are real American heroes.
My Uncles who fought in WW2 also never talked about it. That's how I tell who's been in combat. Those who talk up a storm about it, probably have never been in it.
He jumped right out into the blast, his static line unhooked, and he ain’t gonna jump no more!
Anyone feel like singing after watching this?
Ohhh He was just a rookie soldier and he surely shook with pride.
These old time training films are gold and of great historical value
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Graduated in November 1973. Not much had changed from the training depicted in this video. Did 4 years in the 82nd Airborne Division and served with some fine men, who are still lifelong friends. I wish I was still in the same physical shape. Most of us have bad lower back and knees now. But I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Airborne!
You guys had to jump every so often to remain airborne qualified right?
@@EddieLeal We remained "qualified" and could wear the wings even if not assigned to an airborne unit. While assigned to an airborne unit, we had to average a jump every 30 days to continue receiving hazardous duty pay (jump pay).
@@brownie1341 Ok. Thank you for your service!
I watched the whole thing is aww. Seeing all the similarities and differences between then and when i went through. Its just beautiful site seeing old school paratroopers and reason why i was able to become a paratrooper myself.
I went in 1988 D Co "The Rock". It was not much different than this. Except we counted to 4. I had to do BAR for Ranger School at Fort Benning. The 34 foot towers were actually pretty fun when your not an Airborne School student.
@@dirtydave2691 i was A Co in April 2012, now that I'm out and not an ignorant 21 year old kid, now when i get a chance to learn about how paratroopers did things before me it always amazes me. I had fun during my 3 weeks of airborne school. Only thing that sucked when i was there was the swing landing trainer, that hurt more than the opening shock did
@@Random_Cali_Boy The First Sergeant "Airborne" took over for a few landings when I was on the swing landing trainer. He kept letting go on the wrong swing for the PLF he called out. "Right front PLF Airborne" and would let got for a left rear....OOMMF. I don't suppose CSM Catterton was the Sergeant Major when you went was he? He is an old friend of mine.
@@dirtydave2691 lol thankfully that didn't happen to me, honestly have no idea, when i went through i had been in the army for 2 years already and gotten into trouble with my unit at Bragg so while i was there the only thing i focused on was proving i was a good soldier. I didn't pay attention to much unless i was talking to an instructor or other nco that was a student with me. Also my memory is horrible when it comes to names
P
I ended up being just a "5 Jump Chump" but no regrets. What an adventure! I was 44 yrs. old back in '02.
one off the best things you can get, the first time a nice parachute around your schoulder, and much better your first jump, and a good OPENING
when I found this I had to watch. I was a Paratrooper in the 90's, stationed on Ft. Bragg. Had a great time even my very last jump, my 18th one, were I was picked up by the wind and slammed down, suspension lines wrapped around my ankle and dragged down the DZ. Ended up breaking my ankle and would be my last jump. I now sit around remembering the many times I jumped out of perfectly good aircraft.
I’m going to airborne school in march and getting stationed at ft. Bragg as well, very nervous but excited
Update I graduated airborne school on Friday 😁
@@monicxruiz congratulations. Airborne. Very proud to hear from you keep up the high standards and wear you jump wings with pride.
@@monicxruiz Congratulations 🎉
@@monicxruiz Congratulations late but hope life treating you well!!
As a Vet myself, I miss the jump towers the MOST... made you feel like you'd been to the best Chiropractor afterwards!!
@@noone-gh4dw Excellent choice my friend, you will never regret it- awesome training and benefits!!
@@noone-gh4dw Well, Operations wise it is not the huge wars these days like WW2 like in Band of Brothers, just mostly smaller wars like I was in as Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan. Mostly foot patrol or riding in/on Armored Personnel Carriers but with a group of guys that are EASILY remembered the rest of your life as BROTHERS!!
@@noone-gh4dw Yes Airborne are used in most every war, and more than 1 operation in Vietnam there is a documentary on that here on RUclips watch it it's 27 minutes and then after tell me what you think!! Screaming Eagles in Vietnam | The 101st Airborne Division | US Army Documentary | 1967
Jumping out the towers was worse then jumping out of a plane. Tighter on the crotch too
I graduated in 7/62 enroute to 1st SFG on Okinawa. Studying the landmarks, it looks like Stage A and B were tucked in at the bottom of the hills on the west side of Lawson Air Field. The 250' towers used in Stage C appear to be in the same place as today, between OCS and MCE (although 1 of the free towers is missing - long before my time). The monkey bars are also gone! The training is essentially the same because the need for training to deal with the hazards are still the same. The one BIG change is the attention to safety (PLF techniques, the redundancy of all buckle and straps connections, the improved canopies and deployment systems, and the shock-aborbing helmets). I made over 300 jumps and never had to use the reserve, but I did get a few bumps and scrapes along the way to build into 'war stories.' (Trivia - Why 34' towers? ...The towers were built on top of standard 40' telephone poles buried 6' in the ground.)
The platform of the tower is 34 feet from the ground thus "34 foot tower".
@antone remich, also the 34' towers, your eyes can't tell the difference in height from an actually jump at altitude.
The 4th 250ft tower was destroyed in a storm. All four towers were purchased from the world’s fair I think in 1938???
My dad was 82nd Airborne in WW2. I had his clip for the static line but lost it in a move.
Is everybody happy?
YEAH!
YEAH
YEAH
YEAH
YEAH
"It's the skilled jumper that lands in one unbroken piece." 1:02
LOL.
love it lol
I can't help but hum "Blood Upon the Risers" while watching this.
That was very interesting to see how they negotiate getting stuck in a tree. Very clever.
These were really elite soldiers back in the day and today. If you don't believe me, just sign up for an Airborne Contract. Airborne School will make you a believer. As a Paratrooper you will be guaranteed to be injured a few times during your time in your Airborne unit that you are in. Be it Infantry, Artillery, or any supporting arm in an Airborne division or just a support unit responsible for parachute drops. I have respect for all folks who jumps out of an airplane or any aircraft in the US Military. You did as I did during my time in service. This is beyond what your body takes you in your time when serving. Military Static Line Parachuting is worse than making an aircraft carrier landing because your own body and soul is involved in a crash landing every time. Never forget this Brothers and Sisters of the Airborne World.
reddevilparatrooper you’re damn right. Good old
C47’s
RedDevils!
2nd Generation. Born and raised in 2/508th PIR. Served in 1/508th PIR, OEF VI
@reddevilparatrooper All the Way. Class 39-87, Ranger Class 8-90, RLTW!
Thank you my friend, I went threw jump training in 1977, and enjoy all of it, just to know after my training I was one of the army’s elite soldier made very proud, again thank you.
or you could get a Ranger Contract.
This was absolutely amazing to watch ! Didn't realize how awesome the training was in WWII ! Many thanks for sharing this !
Thank you for uploading this gem. 👍👍
not much has changed except better equipment with harness and parachute. That "plumbers nightmare" looks cool.
Basically very similar to training in 1972 although in 72 it was only a three week course. Some differences I can see. One, I do not recall any training on the body twist. This looks like a very useful canopy technique to avoid coming in backwards. While it would have been very useful with the T-10, the MC1-1 could be manipulated with the toggles to accomplish the same thing I guess. Also, these early chutes were not equipped with the Capewell canopy quick releases which makes collapsing the chute in windy conditions after landing a much easier affair. We did not spend much time practicing the techniques shown in this film. Lastly, the 250’ tower exercise was a one time affair. We did not do the “sissy chair” or the “tethered” drop. All we did was the freed chute drop and it was done only one time.
I went through the Ft. Benning Airborne School at age 40 in 1980. Yes, I was somewhat older than those I ran with. My 6-1/2 years in the 389th MI Co of the 11th SFGP and a total of 193 jumps including some sport jumping I started in 1970 in Australia. Parachutes have come a long way since these riser slip flat rounds that could and would oscillate to some rough landings, even my reserves were steerable and I only broke one ankle in Austria for hooking a Para-commander too close to the ground--showing off. I wouldn't trade my logbook of memories for anything even though in reality it is worth nothing.
When I did Airborne training at Fort Benning, GA in early 1986, it was a three week course (ground week, tower week, and jump week). Things certainly changed from the 1940's. We didn't have turning drills and landing backwards was just fine. I certainly enjoyed the 34 foot (10 meter) tower during tower week.
During World War 2 Your MOS and Parachute training were together plus you were trained to pack your own parachute. A good example of this would be to watch the first episode of "Band of Brothers".
@Retloch Class 39-87 here - check who signed your graduation certificate if you still have it - mine was signed by (then COL) Barry McCaffrey, Commandant of the Airborne School. He commanded 24th Mech ID in Desert Storm, and retired as a 4-star, and is a talking head on TV these days. Fun stuff.
@@TheGhostrider9667 I graduated Dec. 4 1987 you got my interest I had to go look yep and it has Brigadier General Barry McCaffrey signature
When I went through in Aug/Sept ‘83 we had ground week, tower week, jump week. I’m 6’ 5” and had trouble making graceful PLFs. It was easier jumping at night because I couldn’t see the ground very well and landed more relaxed. We also jumped from UH-1 helicopters a lot, sitting I’m the floor and just pushing with your arms into space. Somehow that was scarier because you saw the ground the whole time. Only made 16 jumps, but I’ve never been prouder of anything that I did in the military. It gave me confidence in myself that I’d been lacking. Still have a set of wings on my night stand and I’m 63.
Graduated ABN School in AUG 1986. Yes 3 weeks. we were the first class to do the Airborne Walk, so we skipped tower week. That week all we did was drill and ceremony. Not a bad deal.
Thanks for posting. Graduated the BAC in Jan 77. I would estimate 65% of the training and techniques were the same as in this film. One of the differences that stood out to me was the exit technique. We were taught to jump straight out the door on C-130s and bring our feet and knees together. Up 6 inches and out 16 inches. I think. How they pivoted out the door on their left foot always looked wrong to me when watching footage of WW II jumps. But now I know that was how they were trained. Now I think they are taught to walk out the door at a 45 degree angle with no jump or bunny hop, like I was trained to do when jumping a C-141.
@clmccomas That, and there were no PLFs back then. Just feet, ass, head, I guess. Which is pretty much your PLF most of the time anyway. I was snowbirding at Benning before Ranger School in 1990, and the 50th anniversary of the Airborne was going on. I got to meet and shake hands with some guys from the original test platoon. I was in awe of those dudes.
...I jumped with some instructor on my back in California.... I see things here that fill in lots of things that were going on in that jump..... I got into the free fall so much, I almost forgot to pull the string to open the parachute.... He reminded me.....We had about five or ten minutes of training, and that was my first experience or knowledge of parachuting..... Slipping was a lot of fun...We just ran from a standing landing.....That was over twenty five years ago....I wish I had these military earlier....They are great....Seems like with the extensive training these young men got, didn't require an instructor on there back...
Much of what I did in 1969 is present in this video. The landing process was a little different , called theParachute Landing fall or PLF. It served the same purpose, being able to walk after landing! I don't think we did the two seat drop thing, but he free towers were identical to these. I think the chutes were better or at least bigger and the harness seemed to be the same. The exit stances were different for different planes as well. We jumped C-119s and C-141. So from a WWII prop to a modern jet you had to do it a bit differently. Jump school was physically demanding, but mostly running which I did easily. Jumping was fun and I never jumped again. I did however collect jump pay while a LRRP in Vetnam.
@Dave Bristol If you were a LRRP, you were a true BADASS! Were you attached to a division? If so, which one? Thank you for your service.
I was a rigger 69-71 you might have jumped one of my chutes. Only one guy that I know of was hurt jumping one of my chutes. He landed in the back of a jeep in a rice Patty in Korea. He broke his back. It was determined that his chute functioned fine, was his landing in the jeep that caused his injuries. I was permitted to continue packing chutes.
Wow. These guys did tree jumps on purpose. Respect. Airborne.
It was a good idea to come up with a song to remember what to do when you jump out of a perfectly good aircraft. . Its actually a cadence call. It's called "C-130" after the aircraft.
"If my main dont open wide, I got a reserve by my side." Of course they couldn't just end the song there,."If that one should fail me too, look out below I'm coming through." 😧 🤣
@EDDIE LEAL “If that one don’t open round - I’ll be the first trooper to the ground!” Funniest moment from Airborne School: Blackhat through megaphone to ‘stud’ on the 250’ tower. You’d better not make me have to climb up there and cut you down, Airborne, ‘cause I’M SCARED OF HEIGHTS!” 😂🤣😂
Ever Heard of "Blood upon the Risers
"Look out ground I'm comin' through".
@@geocache99 That's the other version. 😉😁
@@TheGhostrider9667 🤣
Doing games during training is really good, if you’re having fun while training you’ll remember it more then if you weren’t tbh
Herbert "Shorty" Stark trained the first paratroops in WWII. Prior to the war, Shorty was a star attraction in Tex Rankin's air show, and held five world records at one point.
Some of these training exercises are straight out of the text book from the german Fallschirmjager training they employed since they were the first combat airborne formations in world war two
My father graduated 101st jump school in 1943. How can I learn more about this film because I wonder if he is in it.
Great video
I learned to fall like a paratrooper. I think that's why I've never broken a bone. Or, maybe I just don't get out much!
Loosen the legs, tuck and roll baby!
I wasn't in the military, but I remember going to a private jump school in eastern Pennsylvania in the 80s. They didn't give you anywhere near the training that the Army does before jumping! (I jumped with an Army chute out of a Cessna at about 2000 feet.) First day, you went to classroom training. Second day, you jumped off a 10-foot high platform, then from the back of a pick-up truck moving about 8 MPH. Next day, you went out of the plane. My mistake was that I didn't have my knees bent when I hit, and it felt like a sledgehammer on my lower back. I landed in a cornfield just outside the drop zone. They had to send an ambulance to pick me up. Moral: never jump out of a perfectly good airplane just for fun. It's not as good as sex, and much more dangerous. 😶🌫
Using the reserve to rapel down from a tree is genius
As long as you didn't fall into the reserve chute, saw that a bunch of times. Had some funny stories about it.
When you see some of the training methods in these old training films it makes you wonder what the health and safety gremlins would say, or if they would be just apoplectic with rage, but then, back in the war years, men were men and did what was needed to win.
That's right -- men were men and women were women. It is almost like there is/was a conspiracy to destroy men's ability to do anything now. Over the decades, media has been pushing the narrative that men (especially white men) are bumbling fools that can't grocery shop, or even wash clothes.
I'm a safety guy but NOT a dirty nasty leg. I see no problems with any of this. AAtW!
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In time of War, there is a natural relaxing of "health and safety" regulations, if you have to graduate 1000's or 10's of thousands thru a course in multiple years...
I am an Airborne Vet myself, the training I received in the late 1980's would KILL Snowflakes today...
You'd think that, but the reality is pretty much the opposite--it's in the instructors' interest to make training as safe as reasonably possible to ensure no mishaps, and this was as true in 1943 as it is today. The fact is, safer training produces more and better parachutists; a man who's had his eye gouged out or fingers crushed during a training exercise isn't going to be much use in combat. Regulations are written in blood.
Saying "Indian Clubs" would be enough to trigger an investigation now.
Found my Dad in this video.
That must have awesume .
Wow! What time stamp?
@@surelyashley5726 about 6:40
I love airborne troops
Wao excellent training 👏
Looks like fun.
5:00 "it's like a gurtel"...Gürtel is german and means Belt.
"girdle"... to the people watching this originally it meant a band a woman puts around her stomach to make it look flatter.
@Swiss Boomer Remover or a girdle, which means “girdle”. 😁
Fact. Technique is more important than bravery.
Jimi Hendrix broke a leg while in the Army at Ft. Campbell KY on a jump. He was given an honorable discharge and everyone knows the rest of the story.
In hindsight, there is glaringly obvious omission in this training film. None of the paratroops are shown jumping with actual combat packs. I know this is basic training but it would have made sense to get the troops used to carrying full packs right from the start (and getting help from instructors to fix mistakes). Ambrose in his book Band of Brothers reports that the veterans of Easy Company said they dropped like stones on D Day with all the extra weight. Hindsight is always 20 20.
AIRBORNE! All the way!
With all the parachutes issued in WW2 I wonder what the failure rate to open was
My Dad and 2 Uncles were drafted into the Army during early WW2 ( 1 Infantry- my dad, 1 Medic and 1 Transportation) and to them the Airborne were cutthroats, evil, dirty thugs, and the underbelly of men just released from prison. That was the thing and saying back then; that was the way it was. My family, and plenty of Americans lived the rest of their lives believing that. When I volunteered in 1986 and became an Infantry paratrooper my family was horrified. They thought I was going to be killed by the "cuthroats" that made up the Airborne infantry. The fact that I loved it and did so well further encouraged them to think I descended into that ugly lifestyle. My Airborne tatoo I got, cemented this. They all worried I would either be killed or descend into that gang culture of those dirty men. Oh Horrors! I had a blast, combat twice, hated it, and never became an evil cut throat. My dad eventually got over it....I think.
I think of the poor guys who got killed by enemy fire in the air, hung up on a tree or building, broken necks and backs, and so on . But then again, on the ground infantry was just as brutal and deadly or maimed for life . btw , there was a feature movie made near the end or after ww2 . It was about veterans who came home with disabilites . One of the actors was an actual ww2 veteran soldier who lost his two forearms and hands in the war . back then he had the two hook like prothesis for hands . anyone know the name of that movie ? please, andy and all, replies !
found the movie : The Best Years Of Our Lives - Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, etc 1946
Oscar for Best Picture in ‘46.
Once airborne soldiers hit the ground they are in fact ground troops at that point.
Now that I've seen this video I feel 100% confident that I can go and jump out of the next plane I'm on.
Ive never jumped but I can bet one of the best rules to live by is dont make an enemy of the man who packs the Parachutes .
There are fail safes
I was a rigger and used to tell the mp's that came to get me out of jail, that I was going to pack a"special" chute for them on their next jump. Sometimes it got me out of trouble. They had no idea that we couldn't do that. We packed 30 chutes a day, and they were just delivered to the airport where they had thousands of chutes to pass out. EVERY chute was inspected before given to a trooper.
You don't tumble anymore. Instead, you roll to the side of your body. Tumbling would cause the parachute lines to wrap around you.
Went to Jump School in early 1979. Kinda wonder when they junked the Indian Clubs.
12:26 soldier in white t-shirt to your left . Looks like a young Montgomery Clift . In all probability he didn't serve in the military in any capacity . Although during ww2 when there was a need for more personnel the military relaxed it's screening criteria . Liz Taylor said once Clift was the man she loved the most in her life . When she found out he was gay she remained close friends with him .
yes that too was true about Clift
@@jassack8498 A young William Windom must have been at training during this time but I did not see him in the film. He served in Europe as a Red Devil and he hated heights and planes!
Who invented the parachute? And was he the first to jump?
Interesting video, I approved.
Most fun you can have with your pants on!!
Where are the pushups we did for not being fast enough, loud enough, or motivated enough? LOL. The techniques are basically the same.
My dad went through that year, me 30 years later and my son 32 years sfter me
You had to be a bad ass.
roll backwards get stuck rolled in the chute lol
Can u imagine how many would alive now
Quite a bit of technique!
Never know what we'll be doing in 5 years
My dad was there 1944 45 325gir
Jimi Hendrix was a badass.
Jimi Hendrix was in the 101st ABN and may have completed jump school. But he hated the Army so much that he psycoed out before he finished his hitch. If you want to look up to someone look up to Lou Rawls 82nd ABN.
Roger that@@ddawsond he was with the 2/505th (my old unit.)
Seems like those chutes landed the soldiers "hard".
5 jumps
Andy Gallegos Albuquerque NM
4
Cynamin is waiting Eddie
glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die.
3/325 and 1/508 Airborne Battalion Combat Team
Airborne!!!
D day 5 June 1944
they look like they have springs instead of muscles .. you never see ppl today move around like that with zero effort .. unless its shaolin monks.
Market Garden
Just remember your training, and I guarantee gravity will take care of the rest.
3 days of training streached to 3 weeks with gender norm requirements. UK P coy is the gold standard.
iS EVERYBODY HAPPY?
WE LIKE IT HERE, WE LIKE IT HERE B---S---!
25:35
Gain canopy control
Guerre de l'île danticostie
Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft is an unnatural act......
Hitler a British agent mi6 , Hitler escaped Germany - Eyewitness report
Aubrey M. Temples 82nd Airborne, German POW two-time Purple Heart &
Bronze Star w/Valor recipient ... "Why was Hitler allowed to escape ,
because he did his job" ~ Al Bielek
based schizo
J8n
4 weeks...a...b...c...d...
AATW
Ah...the memories.
Gin
my grandfather was in the army signal corps and had to go to jump school in 1945 and then he fought in the korean war
The impact of paratroops is seriously overstated here. When German troops parachuted into Crete they suffered such horrendous casualties that this tactic ceased to be a factor in that nation's war planning. American paratroops used during D-Day notoriously were dropped miles from their planned attack points and accomplished little to aid the invasion. There are just too many things that can go wrong.
Reread your history and pay better attention to the facts.
The Grete operation had so many casualties because A. the Germans landed too close to their objectives and did not carry their weapons with them out the door. B. It was not jump injuries that caused the casualties but prompt response from the defending garrisons,. The objectives were airfields that had to be taken before reinforcements could be flown in. Regardless those objectives were taken.
As for the Normandy invasion the jumpers were scattered due to poor visibility and antiaircraft fire. Despite this every objective was taken and the separation was so wide that an extra unexpected advantage was in that the Germans were unable to concentrate their defenses against the airborne assault.
Your assertion "accomplished little to aid the invasion" is false. the 82 and 101 Airborne Divisions behind Omaha and Utah Beaches and the 6th British Airborne behind Gold, Juno and Sword prevented German reinforcements from preventing the landings.
You may doubt me but I have served in both the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and we learned both the good and bad about Normandy. It's a military process called "Lessons Learned".
Agree with what Dawson says here. The actual casualties amongst both glider and parachute troops was much less than anticipated. The drop behind Utah Beach ensured the beach exits were open to the sea born troops and the scattered drops caused widespread confusion and panic amongst the German defenders. The 101st captured of Carentan was critical to linking the Utah and Omaha forces and opening the road to Cherbourg.
The Fallschirmjager parachute in WWII also had the shroud lines attached directly to the parachute pack. There was very little control of the parachute.
Trust me….. will will drop death with deadly accuracy that is ready to fight with skill and technology right in the enemy’s back yard anywhere in the world in under 18 hrs notice. If we might be shot down today the air force would lead the way to make sure that didn’t happen. We would drop enough bombs to make anyone pull their head in so we can enter. After that we have light armor mobile ground troops with towed artillery pieces that can seize countries with stealth and speed. I was 3-319 Airborne Field Artillery. I wouldn’t wish the 82nd Devil brigade on my worst enemy. Crazy insane blood thirsty soldiers. Love em every one.
This does not seem wise O'Neill
2:00
One...
of us...
is wearing...
a pushup bra!
It's lacy...
and cute!
Jesus I hope to learn how to put a Shute on before in get into a plane not while in it,
Little class room time won't hurt
Silver wing ping against there chests these are men AMERICAS best ,
アメリカファースト！ ＵＳＡ！ＵＳＡ！
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 KJV
Jesus lives
Jesus Christ is Lord
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 KJV
Jesus loves you repent
You're a sinner in need of a Savior
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 KJV
M