My first experience with a parachute was in the fall of 1944 when my mother obtained a large white parachute panel which somebody had taken down from a tree. Souvenir from the Battle for Arnhem.  She  made blouses for my brother and me. We hated those slippery silk shirts. My military career was very short. After high school I applied for flight training in the Royal Netherlands Air Force but was not accepted as I was “still too immature.” Some time later I applied again and was accepted

 

    We wore parachutes but we weren't trained to jump. During one instrument flight with the instructor in the front and I in the back “under the hood” I had my second parachute experience when I almost made my first round canopy parachute exit. Following the instructor’s directions I was manoeuvring the aircraft turning, banking, levelling off, etc and getting air sick. Fortunately just before I barfed the instructor said that it was enough and he released the hood so I could see out again. I quickly opened the canopy, loosened my straps, took off my oxygen mask to lean out and throw up. At that moment the instructor rolled the aircraft upside down, I fell with my head against the canopy ledge, cutting a gash in my forehead. I held on for dear life. About 10,000 feet below I saw the town of Breda and the prison with its green cupper domed roof. The mask was flapping in the slipstream and creating a lot of noise in the instructors ear phones. He immediately turned the plane right side up while yelling “What happened? What happened?” I often thought about what it would have been like if I had fallen out and floated into the town of Breda. I learned to fly but screwed up and never made it to a squadron.

 

     I took a parachute course in England sometime in the early sixties. S/L round canopy, jumping or rather climbing from a Piper Tri Pacer. I didn't continue as shortly after that I moved to the USA.

 

    About two years ago I attended an air show in Duxford. Right in front of where we were seated “Drag Em Oot” was parked and I said to my wife that I would love to jump from a C-47 and that there must be someone who would take my money and let me do that. She advised to Google it and that’s how I got in touch with Pathfinder UK.

 

    Not long there after I made 5 jumps at Teuge. On the third jump I performed a downwind landing right in front of  Sgt Roy Mobsby. He was yelling something about my face and the wind but I was too busy watching a tall tree that was heading towards me.. Roy  was not very pleased with my performance. On the fourth jump I faced the wind as he had  “suggested” but  hurt my back. The next morning it was extremely difficult to get dressed especially lacing up my boots was time consuming and painful. Yet the last jump was successful even though I had to get up and stand in the aircraft’s aisle most of the 3000 mile flight home. Fractured lumbar vertebra. Therefore I couldn't participate in the Arnhem jump in 2008. Physical therapy and exercises cured the problem .

 

    Last September I had the great pleasure and honour to jump the Ginkel Heath DZ which was a fantastic and emotional experience. I am looking forward to the next opportunity to jump with Pathfinder.

 

Gary Young