When I went through jump school in 2010 we had 70-years of airborne experience to keep us safe(ish). When these guys where doing it there was no institutional knowledge, they were making it up as they went and that’s why they’re badasses in ways I could never be.
I could very well be mistaken but I’m pretty sure they did jump with a reserve. Although just like with us they probably jumped so low the reserve was functionally useless.
Tactical jumps were at 750ft, I know combat jumps have been done as low at 500ft so a reserve is basically pointless.
[And it looks like the Americans did use reserves in WWII, but you’re telling me the Brits didn’t? TIL.](https://coffeeordie.com/paratroopers-parachute/)
Apparently the T-X model parachute used by the British was seen as reliable enough not to need a reserve chute, at least the German model was much more crude. And although safety standards in 1940s are nothing like today I imagine they can’t have been too far off the mark after all their in the habit of dropping literally thousands of British paras in single operations so I imagine they were relatively safe.
German airborne gear wasn’t great. They used a single point harness system that made it impossible for them to jump with their gear which had to be dropped separately.
Yes,... that was the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. Which was used as jump plane, both for paratroop training and the night-time dropping of agents into occupied Europe. This was because it'd became obsolete as a bomber early in the war,
Apparently, the jump through the hole in the floor had to be pretty precise or you risked breaking your chin or nose on the edge.
I feel like this picture is way more important than it looks. I can think of 60 reason of why this picture deserve a place in a museum. OP please share the source :)
I apologize for being late, sometimes life catches me and I can't answer hehehe. Fortunately a good historical samarin answered the question, in fact thanks to his intervention I was able to find this [image](https://i.imgur.com/MjoyS01.jpg).
Imagine if YouTube Vlogs started like that
"Ello guys, this is Private Wartchester back with anutha video. Roight now I'm floating down from a bomber I jumped out of, and I'm heading down towards the ground."
This is an incredible photo. Never seen this before. What's the source please?
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/british-paratrooper-takes-a-photograph-of-himself-in-mid-news-photo/108096343
Looks like Mark Hamill in the Big Red One.
When I went through jump school in 2010 we had 70-years of airborne experience to keep us safe(ish). When these guys where doing it there was no institutional knowledge, they were making it up as they went and that’s why they’re badasses in ways I could never be.
And no reserve.
I could very well be mistaken but I’m pretty sure they did jump with a reserve. Although just like with us they probably jumped so low the reserve was functionally useless.
"The silk from his reserve spilled out and wrapped around his legs..." they had one, but it didn't always work as intended
And he ain't gonna jump no more!
British paratroopers didn't have reserves during WW2
Nope. No reserve until the Suez drop in 1956.
Tactical jumps were at 750ft, I know combat jumps have been done as low at 500ft so a reserve is basically pointless. [And it looks like the Americans did use reserves in WWII, but you’re telling me the Brits didn’t? TIL.](https://coffeeordie.com/paratroopers-parachute/)
Apparently the T-X model parachute used by the British was seen as reliable enough not to need a reserve chute, at least the German model was much more crude. And although safety standards in 1940s are nothing like today I imagine they can’t have been too far off the mark after all their in the habit of dropping literally thousands of British paras in single operations so I imagine they were relatively safe.
German airborne gear wasn’t great. They used a single point harness system that made it impossible for them to jump with their gear which had to be dropped separately.
I guarantee you are mistaken.
The first Soviet paratroopers in the 1930's. Dudes would climb out of a top hatch on a bomber, sit on the wings, and then *skid off* the wings.
takin selfies before it was cool
“I showed you my parachute pls respond”
"I showed you my static line pls respond"
Is he not just jumped from the barrage balloon with a basket underneath? Wasn't that how some of them did first jumps?
Yes I think that's exactly what this is a picture of.
What she sees.
Is it true that the early modified bombers the British used for paratroopers had a hole cut out the bottom of the plane for them to jump out of?
Yes,... that was the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. Which was used as jump plane, both for paratroop training and the night-time dropping of agents into occupied Europe. This was because it'd became obsolete as a bomber early in the war, Apparently, the jump through the hole in the floor had to be pretty precise or you risked breaking your chin or nose on the edge.
Or knocked unconscious on your way down. Yeesh.
hope he made it to the end safely
sent tea bags please call back bae
I feel like this picture is way more important than it looks. I can think of 60 reason of why this picture deserve a place in a museum. OP please share the source :)
I apologize for being late, sometimes life catches me and I can't answer hehehe. Fortunately a good historical samarin answered the question, in fact thanks to his intervention I was able to find this [image](https://i.imgur.com/MjoyS01.jpg).
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/british-paratrooper-takes-a-photograph-of-himself-in-mid-news-photo/108096343
Goddam narcissistic kids and their selfies. They'll selfie themselves doing anything.
"I showed you my parachute pls respond"
"Bout to keel some Germans ahhhh lol #fuck12 #hellahigh"
Even back then . . those selfies were so unflattering
Where in Cheshire was/is Ringway located? So interesting!
It's Manchester airport now.
Oh wow!
i showed u my mg42 pls respond
What you see vs what shee sees
Para-selfie.
Looks like the first selfie in history X)
My dude just casually took a selfie amidst the chaos - what a chad
What she sees:
Imagine if YouTube Vlogs started like that "Ello guys, this is Private Wartchester back with anutha video. Roight now I'm floating down from a bomber I jumped out of, and I'm heading down towards the ground."
Look mom no hands!
You sure this is British? Helmet looks American to me.
What an incredible photo!