Pathfinder History 2009 Part 1

No1 Parachute Training School RAF Brize Norton Visit 5 march 2009

Thursday afternoon at 1300 hrs a motley crew of Pathfinder members met at the main gates of RAF Brize Norton. For most of them this was the first time back at this base since they had qualified as Paratroopers for a few it was a first time as they had qualified down the road at RAF Abingdon now renamed Dalton Barracks and manned by the Royal Logistic Corps.

We were met by a young Paratrooper on a motorbike who looked a bit bemused at the bunch of strange looking people wearing some equally strange looking airborne ties and blazer badges. Between us we represented at least half the units in the Para Brigade.

It was a short trip to PCAU and we were handed over to Dave our PJI guide for the visit. I had expected just a tour around the hanger but the Schools instructors had done us proud and arranged the full tour. We started with an explanation of the formation of our Airborne. Old hat to most of us but we had some including three wives with us to whom all this was new. Dave made the introduction interesting and followed it with an interesting DVD showing some of the new systems for Ariel delivery that was being worked on.

It was then time to take a walk around the main hanger. It was just as many of us remembered it with suspended harnesses, crash mats, flight swings and the C-130 fuselage in the middle of the hanger. What was new was the virtual reality system for training novices to steer a ram air parachute. Several different types of DZ can be programmed into the computer but for this one it was a landing on an aircraft carrier deck. Our ladies tried it out and did very well. We did explain afterwards that the idea of a water jump is to miss the boat and land in the water. That's why its called a water jump. Dave continued to introduce us to the new parachute systems in use today and gave us a chance to get hands on.

Ian and I presented Dave ,Paul and the OC with an Airborne Log book and one of our shoulder patches. Iv also given the address of our printer in Pakistan to Paul and we could have been responsible for the re-issue of the Airborne log book to the young crows joining in the future. Its nice to think we may have remade a little bit of Airborne history.

In attendance were

Roy Mobsby

Ian Marshall

Beau Plantard

Brian Aitken

Nick Bird

Heather Nardone

Sean Deacon

John Holt

Jason Dickman

Frank Gallacher

Richard Lowrey

Paul Corcoran

Jerry Watkins

Norman Gibson

Baz Cox

Gil Rashbrook

David Rashbrook

Hans Delaunois-Vanderpperran

Chris Goodall

Peter Keysell

Dennis Melia

Valda Melia.

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Virtual Reality Para Training

By Heather Nardone Pathfinder UK

At RAF Brize Norton, we were shown around the Historical items, watched a DVD and were taken to see and try other various things...this included a virtual reality computer program for Parachuting/Landing. Before I knew anything, there I was being harnessed up from an indoor platform with risers connected...then the headset went on! Oh boy was I in for a surprise!!

The headset gave you a full interactive scenario of jumping out at about 2000 ft and the object being to land onto a moving aircraft carrier. Well, the challenge was set and I was up for it! After being coached about the left/right control cords, (Oh well it could have been worse, she could have called it string..ED) I took a deep breath.

The graphics were brilliant. As I looked down the virtual reality headset showed me a full view of the ocean and then I looked for the carrier. With my orientation set, I went for the right control cord and then the graphics took me around. I then saw the carrier again but felt I was not quite in the right place...so again took the control cords and went for another turn.

Hmmmm, the meter was running and when I looked, it was showing about 780 ft, it was then that I knew it was now or never!! Took the chute in with one more turn, saw the smoke from the moving carrier and pulled both control cords to get me down.

Did I make it..or not.....Yeeeehaaaa, Yes I made it and I have the shots to prove it. I was truly amazed, let alone the look on Nick and Roy's faces, (harsh critics I know) because I have never jumped before. This was a terrific experience for me and my thanks go out to RAF Brize Norton for making this possible.

It was explained to Heather that on a water jump we try to miss the boat but as the mission on the virtual reality computer was to land on the deck,we let her off. We also congratulated her on the correct use of the STEERING TOGGLES.

to see the Full video click here

Carried out a Parachute Display and a container drop for the 65th anniversary of Polish SOE officers Airborne Insertion into occupied Poland

A Liberator bomber took off from Brindisi Italy with 4 SOE officers and a few drop containers destined for the Polish home army called AK ( Armia Krajowa AK – the largest home/partisan army in the world ). After several hours of flight the Liberator reached a secret drop zone between the two small villages of Lekawica and Paprotnia near the Pilica river. An AK platoon was waiting for the drop. After recognition signals were identified by the Liberator the dispatch crew started to drop the SOE officers. Every officer was dropped in a separate turn making this an extremely hazardous mission for both the aircraft and Parachutists who could be discovered at any time. The Liberator had to make four separate circuits around the DZ to drop all four officers. After a fifth circuit all containers had been successfully dispatched. The SOE officers and equipment landed safely and were safely retrieved by the AK unit on the ground. Another AK operation was conducted to divert the German forces attention to another place many kilometres away from a secret DZ. It was one of the largest SOE personnel drops in Poland during the World war 2. All 4 jumpers survived the war but one of them was later murdered by communists during Stalin regime.

Pathfinder Holland’s newest group had the honour to jump at the same place where the SOE officers landed on that night of the 8/9th April 1944 (We jumped on the 18th April 2009). Two SOE veterans’ were the guests of honour observing our drop. Because of the strong wind we had to change our plan and use square parachutes instead of rounds but the containers were still dropped with round canopies from about 150 meters. We were dressed in flight suits as this was the nearest we could get to SOE jump suits. The originals being almost impossible to obtain.

One of our drop containers was original military ZT100, the other two were self made. We equipped heavy duty military bags with round reserve canopies.

We had to be very careful dropping the containers because of the crowds of people who came to see our jumps. All the round canopies deployed well and then we climbed to 700 meters. We jumped with squares and opened our parachutes after a 3 second delay. Reenactors dressed as AK were waiting for us at the same place just like in 1944. We were very proud to be the first jumpers who had landed at this secret DZ since the war. We landed safely and were welcomed by AK platoon with all the security procedures that would have been in place during the war time. During the jump we each carried pistols: Colt 1911 A1 and Browning HP just like the SOE officers did during the war.

We were sorry that we were not able to keep the show more realistic and jump rounds but the wind was too strong. We had two Irvin chutes prepared and we planned to jump with similar chutes to those used in 1944. SOE officers jumped Irvin X Type chutes as standard. We had Irvin PX4 and Irvin LLP. We hope to jump our Irvin chutes during the next Pathfinder Poland operations in the future.

We would like to inform all our Pathfinder friends that it was the FIRST Pathfinder Poland jump-operation since we created the Polish Pathfinder group as members of Pathfinder UK.

The SOE dropped 316 officers into Poland during the war, 112 of them gave their lives. 9 died during the flight and jump, 94 died during fighting or were murdered by Gestapo when captured, 9 were murdered by the communists after the war.

After the war, the Republic of Poland and its people were sold by the allies in a callous act to a cruel dictator, Stalin. Not one of the Allied countries spoke out in their defense and so began a black period in Polish history which will be for ever a stain on the reputation of the Allied countries. This was History.

After my travails at Texel and Arnhem last year, I returned with fellow Pathfinders from the UK, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Poland and Portugal to Teuge for the annual basic and refresher course. Roy appropriately christened the course, Operation Manna, in honour of the Allied food relief drops to the Dutch survivors of the Hongerwinter in April ’45. The course would both give the novices their first taste of rounds (and Ian Marshall!) with a Dutch Military B wing as their prize, and the inexperienced and veteran jumpers the chance to get in-date for Arnhem. For me already qualified, it was a good way to build up both my jump and chute packing skills (the latter task was to take up most of my week). The Cessna 208B was our main jumpship, but Teuges’ Simon Woerlee, in a great coup, managed to get an An-2 on site so everybody would able to practice their Arnhem exits. The Antonov biplane is typically Russian, - ugly, simple, slow, looks like it could fall apart with a good kick, guzzles gas, but built to last and just perfect for paratroop training. An amazing aircraft!

The first 2 days were spent with the refreshers getting the rigs ready for the students, under Brian Aitken and Hervés’ supervision. When they all opened perfectly for their first jump on Tuesday, it was a relief. Myself and other refreshers got in jumps from the Cessna, in addition to packing like no tomorrow to get 3 jumps in for the students that day. The winds caused havoc for some students on their 4^th jump from the An-2 on Wednesday, and so a halt was called to the day. It allowed us all to get another viewing of A Bridge Too Far (the lack of wind on our jumps allowed the pilots to bank for our DZ run-ins over Deventer, which had “doubled up” for Arnhem in the film). Next day, winds were down and with the An-2 unavailable after this day, it was critical to get 1 in for Arnhem. I was fortunate to get 2 jumps out of it and with the students now jump qualified, there was more chutes available for us to fill up chalks. 2 more Cessna exits were got in and despite the hard landings, I was happy as Larry with my week. Absolutely fantastic was the organisation by Roy, Ian, Lance and quartermaster Hervé with great credit also to Simon and his Teuge crew for keeping us watered and fed and for the use of their superb facilities and aircraft. And that was just the jumping!

The après-jump in De Wolk wasn’t half bad either with highlights for me, a DVD showing of Ian and 99 other daredevils saving the world over Florida 2 years ago (so good was it that Roy literally begged Ian for an encore!!!!) and a monster browse of ARRSE with the senior Pathfinders at a certain walts’ expense (hell, Sgt. Hotspur has more jumps now than that git, HA, HA), all washed down with copious amounts of Holland’s finest, though Pawel Moszners’ Polish vodka (rocket fuel more like) would trump that.

All in all, I met some great people who helped me out whenever they could, Denis and Valda Melia, Gill and Dave Rashbrook and James P for particular mention. All further increasing my respect for the airborne brotherhood and the Pathfinders’ mission to save the art of round canopy jumping from the skygods.

It’s been 19 months since I last jumped and I’ve been planning to go this September for the commemoration jumps since then.

I got my pathfinder basic wings on the 17^th September 2007 (a very special date) and my next jump was onto Ginkle Heath (Hallowed ground) for the 63^rd anniversary

So this was going to be my 5^th jump! – a jump that wasn’t looking like anything special – just a jump I had to do to be certified for this September.

I flew into Amsterdam – Schipol grabbing an auto train ticket and followed the myriad of signs to the station jumping onto a train to Apeldoorn , the train was 10 mins late – just like home.- and I missed the connecting bus so jumped in a taxi, well it was lunch time and I didn’t want to miss lunch.

I arrived at the parachute centre and saw two dazed bewildered people, the wind was at the top of the safety limit. The first one was Gill who had decided to try and make an impression on the buildings and the other was one of the Polish guys who had been dragged by his parachute after landing on his front.

There was to be no more jumping that day however I was still edging to get going. I made myself at home in the hangar and started unfurling the chutes. Dennis, Ian & Brian all helped in teaching me the basics of packing chutes – a good refresher plus I had only packed GQ’s till then. I packed or rather helped pack several chutes always with one eye on the wind sock just in case it dropped to a safe level – mind you I was on Chalk 6 & the next chalk was 5 so time was running out today.

I was supposed to be bunked in with the ‘snoring & buzz saw’ team but luckily ended up the classroom and got a quiet nights sleep – Brian A was suffering from a lack of sleep and joined me too.

The next day was blue skies and more importantly the wind sock was just hanging there!.

Breakfast seemed to labour on & on, this would be the 5^th jump for the guys on the course and the certification jump for myself.

Chalk 5 was called up, the morning dew had cleared and it was time to get ready but only after winding up the elastic band on the AN2.

The jump ship for the next two chalks was to be the Antanov AN2 biplane – The plane is designed to work in -50Celsius upward so the engine is designed with greater tolerances allowing the cylinders to fill up with fuel & oil. The pre flight take off procedure is to turn the propeller round 40 times (hence the joke about the elastic band), this checks the cylinders aren’t full of fuel/oil. She starts up and smoke trails behind – Chalk 5 marches out to the plane – this isn’t an Easyjet plane – when in kit you’re on display and should behave as such.

The guys are helped into the plane and the door closes, the prop revs harder and the AN2 moves off. We are the ground crew and hop into the 2 transit vans used to get to & from the DZ.

We wait and then the AN2 comes back into vision at 2000 feet. The 1^st stick is out and lands safely, the 2^nd stick is out and lands safely however we had a stow away on the flight Sergeant Hotspur – he’s a sponsored charity bear collecting money for ‘help the heroes’, he has his own parachute and we reckon he did the best landing but don’t tell anyone –shhh!

I re-learnt what PLF stands for – during training it was ‘Parachute Landing Fall’ now that we had people desperate to jump – me included – and 10 chutes to pack, PLF now means ‘Pack Like F…….’

We all muck in with the chutes and lunch is due so Chalk 6 is expected around 14:00. Get lunch and as per normal we end up watching some movie – the list is endless in a choice of 2 – there are only 2 films “Theirs is the Glory” or “A bridge too far”. We plumb for the 1^st mimicking the superb pigeon English style of the 40’s. We also have a good laugh at the modern Paras doing some dubious exits in full kit/weapons container etc from a Hercules.

Chalk 6 is up – to say I was cool calm and collected would be a monumental lie – I was just as scared as I had been 19 months ago- I had been getting the odd nerves building up to coming but now it was real the heart was starting to race. I got my chute on and did the straps up tight –very tight. Ian came along and adjusted the straps tighter but more comfortable –im ready – 2^nd stick 2^nd out. I turn to No3, James, and give him permission to kick my arse out of the door if needed knowing full well Ian would make sure.

We walk out to the AN2 in file and board, oh how I laughed at the guys struggling to get out of the Hercules as I stepped into the draught from the propeller and struggled to get into the AN2 without any kit other than the chute!. I get a seat with Owen, Brian (A fellow member of Just Ordinary Men) and James. The door shuts and you hear the sound of a steam engine huffing and puffing?. The plane lurches forwards and the smell of fuel fills your nostrils giving you a dizzy feeling. We bump off the grass onto the tarmac and taxi to the end of the runway. The AN2 takes off and boy is it slower than the Dakota! Its also a lot quieter. To pass the time and take away the nerves Brian and I do a conversation in 40’s English style – it made us smile and relax briefly.

2000 feet. Action stations! Stick 1 is called, the door opens and you can see the fields passing by, checks are done and Ian sends them out of the door. Stick 2 is called and we waddle into line each hooking up and checking, we check each other and the door is opened. I can see round Owen and watch the fields below again. GO! Owen’s off and Im right behind out of the door remembering to duck as the door is lower than the Dakota, arms in feet together. A reassuring tug on the shoulders as the chute opens – a big round green canopy.

I look around and see the other 3 chutes open, the AN2 trundling slowly off. Brian calls out in pigeon English again and we have a moment to discuss some topical subject much to James’s amusement.

Im heading for the DZ and see Owen coming across so I call him and turn away myself, unfortunately Owen turns in under me and steals my air, I fall and slide down the edge of his chute seeing the rigging lines slide between my feet, I push my feet away and nothing snags, I see the top of my chute fold off the top of Owens and after some 30 foot drop im away in free air. Both chutes are open and stable.

I find a nice piece of DZ to land on and made a lovely PLF landing – the proper PLF not the alternative. I run round the chute and as promised – much to Roy ’s amusement – phoned the good lady wife to let her know I was safe. I pack my chute into the bag and we all discuss the last 5 minutes.

There are 2 more Chalks in the afternoon but as promised I only did the one jump – my wife worries so. The remnants of the chute packers only finish at 21:30 and that makes it beer-o-clock.

As my flight home isn’t till quite late in the weekend Ian & Roy give me a lift home so I got to see my family much quicker.

Thanks to Roy, Ian, Lance, Brian & Dennis plus all the guys on the course – although I only joined in at the end it was fun.

Oh and how did I feel about the jump I had to do – well it ended up being from an AN2 which I hadn’t jumped, I earned my B wings which will be presented at Wolfheze and the day….St Georges Day.

Pathfinder Parachute Groups Dutch Parachute course

April 09.

http://www.sgtslingsby.org/

Holidays 4 Heroes http://www.holidays4heroes.org/

by Sgt Hotspur

I had turned up in Holland at the National Paracentrum Teuge to join the Pathfinders basic Para course. I was full of apprehension. I heard about these people. Ian Marshall the senior Instructor had a reputation in the Parachuting world. He was a former Paratrooper from the elite British 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. What he didn't know about Parachuting wasn't worth knowing. He had been a Red Devil, he was a Tandem Master, a World record holder in Canopy relative work and if you needed a box of chocolates delivered by Parachute through the girls window from 30,000 feet he was the man to deliver them.

The second man known as the 'Boss' was Roy Mobsby. Roy had also been a British Paratrooper having served in the elite 1st Battalion and then moving though several Airborne units until he completed a total of 35 years as a soldier and as a Parachutist. His career included a ten year spell with the Royal Corps of Transports Silver Stars Parachute Display team.

Both of these formidable men ran the Parachute club that I was about to jump with. Through the Pathfinder club they had attended several foreign Military Parachute courses and held many qualifications for Parachuting. These guys and their jumpers were some of the most experienced Round canopy parachutists in the business and they did it now for fun. Pathfinder had been formed over 18 years ago by Roy and another former Paratrooper Ron Ball to enable Paratroopers leaving the army to enjoy parachuting the way they had been taught. To learn sports Parachuting meant being retrained but Ron and Roy could see that was not necessary and figured out a way to help their comrades continue to enjoy parachuting. It had grown into an organisation that covered 18 countries and numbered 800 members at any one time.

I found the ground training hard. Parachute Landing fall training gave me bruises on my bum.(Might be an idea to ask Sgt Braille where he got those trousers made) Jumping from the aircraft mock up was frightening mainly because everyone was three times my height so I had three times the distance to fall as everyone else. Ian said that two exits from the aircraft might as well count as one jump for me as I was so small.

Julie Dinsey the course camerawomen and dedicated non jumper was given the title of "Keeper of the Bear" and was responsible for looking after me for the remainder of the course. She looked after me during training and in the bar at night. She was given this job because she had a kind face but also as the shortest person on the course and about the same height as me we could see eye to eye. Every day she would look at those of us on the course and call us all mad. "You wont get me jumping out of a plane" she repeated many time to anyone within earshot. Roy smiled. He had heard those words before and he liked a challenge.

Much to my shock and dismay I was not going to get a days grace before my first jump with the other novice jumpers. Dave Rashbrook himself a former member of 10 Para (V) his wife Gill and Valda Melia the wife of Dennis another former Paratrooper were going to start the course with a 9000ft Tandem jump. This was where the student is strapped to Tandem master jumper and then gets to ride 'Passenger style' all the way to the ground with the Instructor doing all the work. Ha Ha scary.....but wait a minute...what do you mean Im going to go as well strapped to Gill? The Dutch instructor beamed. "Its my first triple Tandem." he smiled until Roy reminded him that saying the word "First" on any DZ means a round of beers in the bar. That stopped him smiling.

So there I was at 9000ft with the slipstream blowing through my fur. Did I mention that Iv not been issued with trousers yet. More defence cuts no doubt. Brrr bloody cold...Come on guys with all those donations the least you can do is buy me a pair of trousers. As I was now sticking out the door at 9000ft I might as well make myself useful so I spotted for the pilot and told him when it was OK for us to exit.

We rocked back and forward and just when I thought the instructor had changed his mind we were hurtling earthwards. The chute was opened early to give us a chance to steer the Parachute around the sky admiring the view and Henny the cameraman as he flew around us taking photos. The landing was smooth but I was almost injured when Gill posed for the camera holding me by the ears. Hang on girl they are not carrying handles.

That night I had a couple of swift half's while I made my first entry in my log book. Its amazing how good everything tastes when you have just cheated death. Well maybe that was a bit over dramatic but I think you know what I mean. I still haven't got a clue what it was they dished up for dinner that night. Sometimes in a foreign country its best not to ask. Don't want to offend people now do we?

The following day I kitted up with my own parachute alongside my 'Stick' of jumpers. Ian finished the DZ brief and the final checks and we made our way out to the Cessna Caravan. Why it has that name I don't know. It doesn't look like a caravan and I would hate to tow it behind a car. For one thing Parallel parking goes right out the window with those wings sticking out. The plane ride was as smooth as I remembered from the day before and the sun was shining.

We got to the 2000ft drop height very quickly and after yesterdays jump the ground looked awfully close. Are you sure we are at 2000ft I asked Ian. He just smiled and screamed "Go!" at the Parachutist who was carrying me. I don't think he as much jumped as was scared out the door by Ian but after a short fall and a slight tug we were under a big round American parachute. Just as I was enjoying the ride my carrier put me at arms length and dropped me. "AAAAAGH"! I screamed but just as I thought it was all going to end in tears my own chute tugged open. "Wheeew!" I had forgotten about that. He could have warned me. It went very quiet for a while and I enjoyed the view of the Teuge airport and the Dutch countryside spread out before me. Suddenly the ground rushed up to meet me. "Blimey" Where had that come from? Before I knew it I was down with a bump and safe and ground crew were coming up to congratulate me and the other novices on our first jump. Ian landed by square parachute a few feet away from the RV point making it look so easy. "Right!" "Don't just sit there, get back and start packing for your next jump." "Move!". Im sure he is a nice guy deep down inside and his mother must really love him. With the others I ran for the bus. "Ow!" There are Stinging nettles in the long grass". Did I mention I don't have any trousers...guys come on!" This is getting embarrassing.

The Parachute packing lessons were revised and everyone including me were getting good at this. I found it easy because my claws made a four line check look easy. Throughout the week I jumped, carried by various jumpers who all seemed to be queuing up to jump with me. I was becoming a bit of a celebrity. My head was getting a bit big for my Beret but luckily Roy lent me his as he has a big head anyway. Opps sorry! I think that come out wrong. (Must remember to erase that bit before going to print). By Thursday we had all qualified for the Pathfinder Parachute clubs own 3 Jump Proficiency award and the Dutch Military B wing award after 5 successful jumps. As Ian said. You only need four good ones as you get your wings for the fifth one no mater how bad it is. I was a very happy bear.

My friend Julie wasn't looking too happy. Gill and Valda had plied her with a lot of alcohol the last night as they celebrated their successful end to their course. Somehow in a moment of bravado she had agreed to do a Tandem jump. Everyone in the bar heard her including the pilot who said if she jumped he would make it memorable.

The following day Julie looked like it was a case of 'Dead men walking' but she couldn't back down now. Everyone had heard her. She had to wait until five in the evening for Henny the airborne cameraman to get back to the DZ. There was no way the lady who had kept saying she would never jump was going to get away without this being filmed. I agreed to go out attached to her just to give her a bit of moral support. After all I had completed 9 jumps so far and was considered an experienced jump. Me an experienced jumper. How cool is that?

Julie was helped into the aircraft...or was it pushed? but either way she was in the aircraft with a bunch of free fallers commonly referred to as 'Sky Gods' by us hard core Round canopy jumpers. We climbed to drop height and the Sky Gods and another Tandem got out leaving us alone in the aircraft. We continued to climb. I checked our Tandem masters altimeter which she showed me and it read 12500 ft . Did I mention our female Tandem master. She was a babe.....but I digress. Any higher and we could be run over by a Space shuttle. It was very cold with the wind whistling through the open door. Did I mention I don't have any trousers?

"Ready!" "Set!" "Go!" and we were hurtling earthwards, Julies scream was one of pure excitement and I know she enjoyed it really. Looking to our right was the strangest sight of the Aircraft diving nose down alongside us at 180 miles an hour. The pilot said he would make it a memorable jump for her." Oh so its a race you want!" He chickened out first and pulled out of the dive leaving us deploying our big parachute and flying around before landing smoothly. Henny had captured it all on film. Julie bent down and whispered in my ear. "When does this stupid grin wear off as its hurting my cheeks?" "Oh that?" I replied knowingly now that I was a fully fledged Airborne bear with 10 jumps to my credit. "That's a first time jumpers grin. It should wear off in about an hour or two when your muscles relax and you stop shaking." She carried me over to the DZ vehicle grinning at everyone like a maniac.

Click here for Julie's Video

All to soon my course came to an end. I would like to thank all the Pathfinder members for looking after me and raising £100 for charity. Thank you to the British and Dutch instructors who taught the course and gave us the chance to experience round canopy static line jumping and Tandams and to Simon Woerlee and the staff of the Dutch National Parachute Centre Teuge for their hospitality. Would I recommend it to anyone?..Yes!...Would I do it again?...Yes!. After all Im part of the Airborne brotherhood now although just a little bit of it. Now where is that Sgt Slingsby. Got to show the 'Hat' my new pair of wings.

1. http://www.sgtslingsby.org/travels/civilian/250-hotspurparachutetraining

2. http://www.sgtslingsby.org/travels/news-and-updates/251-newbearontheblock

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