The second course at Texel

Brord Van der Maat (Dispatcher) and Roy Mobsby discuss the drop

The second course was approximately six months later and for the first group, a continuation of their jump training. A few of the new guys were first timers but because of the mix of experience there were no hesitations and all completed the course. This is a formula that Pathfinder uses to this day. We were joined by 50 members of the I.A.A.V. The International Association of Airborne Veterans. Lead by Col Mike Epstein of the Legion of Frontiersmen this group ,based in the USA had jumped around the world with foreign Airborne units and we thought this a good way to see the world and jump it. These parachutist jumped round military style which appealed to the retired and serving paratroopers amongst us. Although most of the course was completed jumping from the Cessna Caravan we were invited by Texel to jump onto the town of Den Burg as part of the VE day anniversary celebrations. The aircraft was the last surviving IL2, a wartime DC3 built under licence by the Russians. Now owned by a Hungarian insurance firm, it was about to start a tour of the European airshows. Due to its underpowered Russian engines it could only drop 16 jumpers at a time. .The British were the last stick to jump. Brord van Der Matt one of the young Dutch instructors was jumping last man and wearing a camera mount. He agreed to carry our mascot out with him. H Bear (Hairborn to his friends) was a Teddy bear complete with para smock and beret. Joe, one of the Dutch riggers, had made him his own parachute. All jumpers leapt cleanly over the door sill into an open blue sky beyond. The conditions were perfect. At 1000 ft Brord released the mascot which floated down perfectly to land at the feet of a Kindergarten school from the mixed services organisation in Belgium. H bear had a ready made fan club and Ron and Brord took an hour to get off the DZ as they were signing autographs in the name of our Teddy. Our wings parade took place in the town square. Our guard was made up of us and the Canadian contingent as we did the same type of drill. Speeches were made by the senior officers present in front of the guests of honour ,members of the Dutch resistance.

IL2 last former Soviet built Dakota.

Our names were called out and one by one we marched up to get our Dutch B wing and a certificate. The Mayor of Den Burg presented the British contingent with a town plaque and we in turn presented him with a Red Beret and Parachute regiment cap badge. As we went to fall out RSM Ron Kurelo RCMP and Captain Glen Blumburg of the Canadian contingent ask us all to stand fast. The Canadians had all put their hands in their pockets and had purchased a Commemorative Arnhem medal for each of the British group. Everyone was stunned. It was completely unexpected. It was some very happy and slightly inebriated British parachutist that staggered from the coach to the camp site to continue the celebrations. I spoke at length to Col Epstein and Dutch Holland from the American Branch of the IAAV, picking their brains on how to form a British organisation along similar lines. I had it at the back of my mind that the regular British Paras would think we were cowboys or wannabes and not appreciate our reasons for wanting to continue jumping the way we had been taught in the mob. The truth was we enjoyed it. Without a weapons container stuck on your leg and a three hour ,low level flight, Military parachuting becomes fun. Ron Ball encouraged me but it did not take much pushing and so we formed our own group as yet without a name..

Cessna Caravan, our usual training jumpship

Pathfinder members walk to the flight line.

GQ Aero conical parachute

The VE day anniversary jump team assemble in front of the IL2

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