I was a Balloon operator, on One Crew, and did the Parachute course in 1976. I completed 88 jumps and about 80 were from the Balloon. Those were great times.... It looks like Hankley Common?
If wasn't airborne, but I served in the army. As a physio now, looking at these videos I'm surprised there weren't more back and knee injuries. The speed at which they hit the deck is unreal.
My dad served in the 101st. 501st PIR. He told me they on occasion jumped from a hole in a balloon basket. After the war in Europe and after Bastogne he married my mom and they celebrated their honeymoon at Benning. He was training men for the invasion of Japan. When I enlisted in 1965 and volunteered Airborne. He called me a God damn fool. All the Way!
stubbostubbs - yes mate you are correct that's Nigel. Great guy, was my instructor at Brize along with Jim Hughes another legend. It was unlucky what happened to Nigel at Aston Villa ground.
Memories.Looks like Hankley to me, definitely not Weston on the Green.Balloon jumps,2nd was the worst;you knew what was coming.Up 6ft ,800 men jumping, remember the false laughing.Inmy day you did 8 jumps,2 balloon,1 night,1 with weapons container and the remainder from Hastings, Argosy, Beverley.The balloons where used for continuation jumps.BESTJUMP:- Beverley Boom at Tarhuna(Libya).Never a bad landing,no broken bones stropburns or twists,All for Queen and Country and 52/6d ( £2- 12- 6d) a week.Wished I'd stayed in(1960s) Cyclops 2RTR.
Hi Michael, I was there - I know where you are coming from (2 Para 1967 - 1978). Apart from all the Argosy and C130 - we actually jumped from a Wessex Helicopter on Hankley (clean fatigue) you will know what that means. it was a doddle - between a Balloon and aircraft a bit (not much of a slipstream there - lol). Sim everyone onboard unlike your Hankley norn of sticks of eight from aircraft. Take care mate.
Steven Price We did our balloon jumps on Queens parade in Aldershot. Jumped many times at Hankley Common as well but from Herks or Andovers. ..........Good times ! 👍
Hi Paul i am from Aldershot and my late father taffy Price was in 2 Para.I remember the ballon as a kid on Queens Ave field.Walked the dogs at Hankley common today in the big dip part,Good times
Steven Price. Racking my brain to see if i remember your Dad.. I joined Jr Para in 69 when i got out of school, and was in 2 Para from 71 to 78. When i got out, i moved to USA and have lived here since then. 👍
First balloon jump, I asked the PJI to give me a push from the cage, if I hesitated. He said 'No, it's strictly against regulations. But, of course, if you were to trip over my foot...'
Yep me too, X type (1966 - Weston) so when I let go of the lift webs, rather than gradually letting them up, swung backwards to land feet, bum, and my legs came over head with feet rattling helmet.... lol
I knew a gentleman who fought in Tunisia, Italy and at the North end of the bridge who said the balloon jump was the most frightening thing he had ever done.
used to watch the balloon jumps on Wanstead flats E.London late 50's Air cadets would not let me ballon jump in the 60's at Abingdon/Benson, so went to Jenkings Farm Navestok came our at 3300 from a Percival Prentice fun days
Methinks our training is a bit different from the Germans passed my para course in September 1970 Abingdon then Woodbury Common happy days long long ago. Asked to sing a song as the balloon went up I suggested Spirit In The Sky which was in the charts at the time and I thought fitting for the occasion
Our instructor offered a £5 note to anyone who could spit once we got to jump height. No one collected. I found the balloon very eerie and scary as it swayed in complete silence and the feeling of your balls hitting the pit of your stomach when you jump was... very memorable. Did my balloon jump after completing all the aircraft jumps (because of bad weather) and was scared senseless. I still hate heights.
When baby paras went to Guards depot 87/88 some of us did P coy... balloon jump scared the s### out of me.. Para boys were saying then , it could be the last year for balloon heaven...
Wouldn’t want to jump out of that. Even the sky van looks better than this 😂 Passed PRAC though and on my way to depot soon hopefully after all this pandemic nonsense.
Most of these are Germans on an exchange course. In Germany they don't do a balloon jump, and when I did my German wings they jumped from around 1300 ft not 800 ft. So a very different experience for them!
Loads of comments. To start, weren’t they taught anything before jumping. I didn’t see one decent landing. I was taught to pull the rigging lines , top first towards you whilst laying prone. Remember you are training as an army Para so tactics are important. You don’t want to be standing up before you’ve got your weapon from your bundle. I remember ballon jumps, 800ft 5 men jumping. Standing in the cage and looking over the side, the whistle of a breeze through the lines, on a quiet day you could hear the ant/people talking on the ground. I wasn’t the keenest parachutist but when the dispatcher asked whether I needed dispatching, I always prided myself on saying no, the jumping when he said when you’re ready. Lol
![Felix Baumgartner Space Jump World Record 2012 Full HD 1080p [FULL]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vvbN-cWe0A0/mqdefault.jpg)
First done this 1976 weston on the green scarey but absolutely brilliant
Definitely Hankley common just outside the shot!! Brings back memories
I was a Balloon operator, on One Crew, and did the Parachute course in 1976. I completed 88 jumps and about 80 were from the Balloon. Those were great times.... It looks like Hankley Common?
Hi sir can you help me gather information about this Baloon as part of my study
If wasn't airborne, but I served in the army. As a physio now, looking at these videos I'm surprised there weren't more back and knee injuries. The speed at which they hit the deck is unreal.
My dad served in the 101st. 501st PIR. He told me they on occasion jumped from a hole in a balloon basket. After the war in Europe and after Bastogne he married my mom and they celebrated their honeymoon at Benning. He was training men for the invasion of Japan.
When I enlisted in 1965 and volunteered Airborne. He called me a God damn fool.
All the Way!
Brings back great memories hankley common
Hankley common 1989, 1 Para with Germans posted. Airborne 👊🏻🇬🇧
I almost fell out before given the GO! Weston on the green 1984
stubbostubbs - yes mate you are correct that's Nigel. Great guy, was my instructor at Brize along with Jim Hughes another legend. It was unlucky what happened to Nigel at Aston Villa ground.
Hi felt a lump in my throt, it wasn't, it was my Aasshoooole,
Memories.Looks like Hankley to me, definitely not Weston on the Green.Balloon jumps,2nd was the worst;you knew what was coming.Up 6ft ,800 men jumping, remember the false laughing.Inmy day you did 8 jumps,2 balloon,1 night,1 with weapons container and the remainder from Hastings, Argosy, Beverley.The balloons where used for continuation jumps.BESTJUMP:- Beverley Boom at Tarhuna(Libya).Never a bad landing,no broken bones stropburns or twists,All for Queen and Country and 52/6d ( £2- 12- 6d) a week.Wished I'd stayed in(1960s)
Cyclops 2RTR.
Deffo Hankly
7 bob a day in 60s. £2.9.0 a week.
Hi Michael, I was there - I know where you are coming from (2 Para 1967 - 1978). Apart from all the Argosy and C130 - we actually jumped from a Wessex Helicopter on Hankley (clean fatigue) you will know what that means. it was a doddle - between a Balloon and aircraft a bit (not much of a slipstream there - lol). Sim everyone onboard unlike your Hankley norn of sticks of eight from aircraft. Take care mate.
Yes pal it is 89 time to earn ya Para Pay 😂 Germans doing a couple of jumps aswell.
Definitely Hankley Common, stationed there for a few months on balloons between 1968/71. Happy days.
I never minded the balloon, some good lads on this and the memories flood back! :-)
First did this in ‘75. Great memories.
Looks like Hankley Common ,Farnham just outside Aldershot .
Steven Price We did our balloon jumps on Queens parade in Aldershot. Jumped many times at Hankley Common as well but from Herks or Andovers. ..........Good times ! 👍
Hi Paul i am from Aldershot and my late father taffy Price was in 2 Para.I remember the ballon as a kid on Queens Ave field.Walked the dogs at Hankley common today in the big dip part,Good times
Steven Price. Racking my brain to see if i remember your Dad..
I joined Jr Para in 69 when i got out of school, and was in 2 Para from 71 to 78. When i got out, i moved to USA and have lived here since then. 👍
I made 4 static line jumps while serving in an armoured TA unit, jumped from a Dragon Rapide at the APA Netheravon, brilliant experience.
I’ve been up in a dragon rapide, I bet you were glad to jump out of the bastard!
Balloon Jump was a good test of mettle...just getting in the cage and rising to 800 ft was hard enough.
Straight silent drop , nae slipstream 😵💫
@@allandewar balloon we stil use the balloon in the Belguim army
Only you and your fear ! Strange to have done it over 30 years ago, like if it was another me. Thanks for the video.
First balloon jump, I asked the PJI to give me a push from the cage, if I hesitated. He said 'No, it's strictly against regulations. But, of course, if you were to trip over my foot...'
Remember that first jump , heart in mouth ,arse nipped up , the rest of them from a herc where a walk in the park, great times miss them everyday
Yep me too, X type (1966 - Weston) so when I let go of the lift webs, rather than gradually letting them up, swung backwards to land feet, bum, and my legs came over head with feet rattling helmet.... lol
My grandad did that in TA at Aldershot in 63.
Was on TA6/67 weather too bad for balloons. Qualified 7 jumps on aircraft then had two balloon drops. Terrifying after aircraft.
I knew a gentleman who fought in Tunisia, Italy and at the North end of the bridge who said the balloon jump was the most frightening thing he had ever done.
used to watch the balloon jumps on Wanstead flats E.London late 50's Air cadets would not let me ballon jump in the 60's at Abingdon/Benson, so went to Jenkings Farm Navestok came our at 3300 from a Percival Prentice fun days
Methinks our training is a bit different from the Germans passed my para course in September 1970 Abingdon then Woodbury Common happy days long long ago. Asked to sing a song as the balloon went up I suggested Spirit In The Sky which was in the charts at the time and I thought fitting for the occasion
Our instructor offered a £5 note to anyone who could spit once we got to jump height. No one collected. I found the balloon very eerie and scary as it swayed in complete silence and the feeling of your balls hitting the pit of your stomach when you jump was... very memorable.
Did my balloon jump after completing all the aircraft jumps (because of bad weather) and was scared senseless. I still hate heights.
Great to see you here Andy!
You were lucky, we had to blow up the balloon first.
When baby paras went to Guards depot
87/88 some of us did P coy...
balloon jump scared the s### out of me.. Para boys were saying then , it could be the last year for balloon heaven...
Is that Hankley DZ????? Up 800ft 4 men jumping. God how I remember the feeling of dropping straight down.
Wouldn’t want to jump out of that. Even the sky van looks better than this 😂
Passed PRAC though and on my way to depot soon hopefully after all this pandemic nonsense.
As these lads aren’t jumping from a plane at a higher altitude going at a faster speed, does that mean their parachutes come up slower?
It is Hankley Common.
Glad I went straight to the herc
Eric not in tracksuit order? Rare as hen’s teeth, a sighting like that!
The women’s auxiliary baloon corps! Baaaah!
Definitely Nige Rogoff PJI.
Why did they get rid of the balloon?
Cracking video. I hope you don't mind, but I posted a link to it on my FB page - some friends are on the vid. Thank you for sharing it.
That looked like hankey common when I looked from the cage 1956
PJI dispatching 1 Para guys is Nigel Rogoff
oh yer baby 76-`78 ..airborne all the way.
Sir can you tell me what is the Baloon made up
Brits need to bone up on plf s. Face as the third point of contact is not taught at Bragg. Lol.
Most of these are Germans on an exchange course. In Germany they don't do a balloon jump, and when I did my German wings they jumped from around 1300 ft not 800 ft. So a very different experience for them!
i was all ways frightend off falling out before i was ment too.
Good luck mate. My best years
Is this still part of training? If so I wasn't informed of this when I signed up.
Nige Roggoff is the PJI I`m sure,
Loads of comments. To start, weren’t they taught anything before jumping. I didn’t see one decent landing. I was taught to pull the rigging lines , top first towards you whilst laying prone. Remember you are training as an army Para so tactics are important. You don’t want to be standing up before you’ve got your weapon from your bundle. I remember ballon jumps, 800ft 5 men jumping. Standing in the cage and looking over the side, the whistle of a breeze through the lines, on a quiet day you could hear the ant/people talking on the ground. I wasn’t the keenest parachutist but when the dispatcher asked whether I needed dispatching, I always prided myself on saying no, the jumping when he said when you’re ready. Lol
Quality...good times..
Sgt Nigel Rogoff PJI
I meant hankley common
Is that goose from top gun
Buckshee
2 balloon jumps + 4 from a aircraft which included 2 night jumps to get jumps wings 16 OFP VETERAN
Is this what you have to do to pass p company??
@@zzzo4509 no. You only go on to parachute training after you’ve passed P Coy.
horrible
Second guy used his head to land 🤣
Can't imagine the silence in the balloon before the jump!
the intercom and the wind, ready to going, 3001 3002 3003 parachute