| History 2000 |
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HOLLAND/TEXEL DZ Pathfinders being briefed on the wind direction
Once again Pathfinder made its annual trip to Paracentrum Texel in the North of Holland to qualify and add new blood to the organisation.
GQ Aero conical canopies carry our jumpers to the ground. The course was drawn from America, Canada and the UK with the Instructors from Pathfinder Holland. The weather changed daily and unexpected sudden gusts of wind resulted in one or two sprained ankles
After a safe landing, field packing the chute. Because of minor injuries two jumpers failed to complete the course but signed up to come back at a later date to carry out the final jumps for their wings.
A happy courses poses in front of the AN2 Jumpship. _____________________________________________________________ The Pathfinder Group Jumps in Normandy
Stick orderThe Merville Gun Battery, 5 June 2000On the 5th of June in the years 2000 members of the Pathfinder Group jumped onto the original Drop Zone at the Merville gun battery, Normandy, France. Pathfinders board the DC3 The drop was to remember the original hard fought battle that took place more than a half-century ago on that same day in June, 1944. The mission carried out by the British and Canadian Para's was to spike the German guns prior to the main assault on D-Day by the Allied Forces from the sea. The German guns would have killed many of the attacking force and could well have prevented the start of the Liberation of Europe . The main attack was delivered by members of the British 9th Battalion the Parachute Regiment supported on the left flank by the Canadian Parachute Regiment. The drop was a disaster, with aircraft being lost with vital equipment on board and many of the heavily equipped Para's drowned in the flooded lowlands. Despite this the survivors pressed on, regrouped and achieved their aim. It must be remembered that the German defenders fought long and hard to stop the Allies as they too realized that this was a decisive battle, the Gateway to Europe and must not fall. The Merville battery has been restored by British Soldiers and stands today as a shrine to those that died.
A regular soldier of 47 Air Despatch Sqn. RLC exits the Dakota As he came off the drop zone after the year 2000 jump, Pathfinder leader Roy said, "This was for the veterans of 1944, making sure that they would not be forgotten." Still on an adrenalin high, Roy admitted that unexpected gusts of wind at 500 feet caused high canopy dispersal over the gun battery. "One jumper suffered a broken ankle, two bounced off roofs and I nearly burnt my bum on an electric fence." Today we jumped in good weather and in day light with steerable canopies. In contrast, the jump in 1944, was made at night, in high winds, and in a country that was extremely hostile. Some of the para's in the 1944 jump were drowned, some blown up by our own bombs being dropped to cover them, and others killed in the attack. "It's not until you are at two thousand feet over the battery, under canopy, that the enormity of what the 85 survivors of the drop actually achieved, hits you.
Jumpers tumble into the slipstream over the gun battery. Over ninety-percent of the jumpers on this historic occasion were retired or still serving paratroopers of the British Army. Civilian jumpers, who have completed a military jump course with the Pathfinder Group and awarded official military jump wings, were invited to participate in the jump. Bruce Cox, a Canadian veteran Para of the World War II jump at Arnhem also jumped with the Pathfinders. Regular soldiers from 2 Para observing the Pathfinders drop had nothing but praise for the jumpers.Prince Charles, who is the Colonel in Chief of the Parachute Regiment, opened the new Pegasus Bridge Museum at Ranville which details the assault on Normandy, including Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal, in June 1944 by allied forces.
______________________________________________________________________________ S.T.A.R. Special Tactics and Rescue 2000
Using the old R.A.F. Sopley camp near Ringwood in Hampshire WASF have accommodation (If a bit Spartan), the use of lecture rooms, a full military kitchen and derelict buildings which are used for CQB, FIBUA and similar exercises. Situated in the New Forest the location is ideal for all kinds of out doors training and activities. It is easily reached from either Ringwood or Christchurch stations and has a regular bus service. The first course in 2000 had myself as guest weapons instructor and Mr Paddy Doyle (TV’s Hard man and Guinness book of Records Endurance fame) in attendance. Paddy is ex Para Regt and “Hooligans from Hereford”. It was an Internationally attended event with students from as far a field as Australia and Malta. Student experience was equally as varied ,from the untrained civilian to retired Commando, Navy, Infantry and Para Regiment. The weather was in our favour enabling many outdoor scenarios to be achieved and soon the camp echoed to the cries of Section Commanders shouting orders and MK 5 Thunder flashes exploding as buildings were breached and objectives taken. Everyone was given the opportunity to show their leadership abilities and as usual on these events everyone finished knackered but happy. I would recommend these events for Corporate leadership skills weekends . There is nothing like being under pressure in the middle of a battle to find out who is still capable of thinking straight and still give the correct orders. On a personal note I would like to thank WASF for inviting me, the students for attending, giving it 100% and doing as they were told. I found the whole event exciting, exhilarating and downright bloody enjoyable. Thank you also for the hangover from the End of Course social at the local pub. I look foreword to the next one. Many thanks Roy
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