Quite a nice photograph of a combat jump.

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Great pic!

May or June? 1978 we (1-505) were alerted and almost on our way to Africa to give Idi Amin Dada and his posse a dirt nap. We were all a bit disappointed when we were told the mission was scrubbed.

I'll also be purchasing your book! Love paratrooper stories! (even if I do have a short attention span..)

Hi Team,
There was a French or Belgium operation a week or two after Cassinga where their paratroopers rescued some white nationals in the Congo I think it was, maybe Kolwezi? If I remember correctly, American aircraft were involved as they didnt have their own handy. I wonder whether that was what you were preparing for? I will look it up and report back.

Here we go. From Wiki : On Saturday,13 May 1978, Ex - Katanges Soldiers supported by Angola, occupied the city. The government of Zaire asked Belgium, France, Morocco and the United States to restore order. The 2e REP, an elite paratroopers unit of the French Foreign Legion, were sent in to drive out the rebels and rescue any hostages. The Belgian army also deployed a force of some 750 Paracommando Regiment paratroopers and moved out just over 1,800 Europeans to other cities in the region. 700 Africans, including 250 rebels,[5] 170 European hostages and 6 paratroopers died.

[Inflexible Six]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

and in my case, a six pack of beer in a wet sandbag.

Okay, beer on a combat jump, BBQ & waterskiing on a sub...where do I sign up?

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by Inflexible Six

Okay, beer on a combat jump, BBQ & waterskiing on a sub...where do I sign up?

Inflexible, the bad news is, the subs are sunk and the destroyers are destroyed, but the good news is...........the beer isnt finished yet.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Hi Team,
There was a French or Belgium operation a week or two after Cassinga where their paratroopers rescued some white nationals in the Congo I think it was, maybe Kolwezi? If I remember correctly, American aircraft were involved as they didnt have their own handy. I wonder whether that was what you were preparing for? I will look it up and report back.

Here we go. From Wiki : On Saturday,13 May 1978, Ex - Katanges Soldiers supported by Angola, occupied the city. The government of Zaire asked Belgium, France, Morocco and the United States to restore order. The 2e REP, an elite paratroopers unit of the French Foreign Legion, were sent in to drive out the rebels and rescue any hostages. The Belgian army also deployed a force of some 750 Paracommando Regiment paratroopers and moved out just over 1,800 Europeans to other cities in the region. 700 Africans, including 250 rebels,[5] 170 European hostages and 6 paratroopers died.

That was the operation we were alerted for and later scrubbed. It would have been my "sixth" jump.....

[MR2]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Hi Team,
There was a French or Belgium operation a week or two after Cassinga where their paratroopers rescued some white nationals in the Congo I think it was, maybe Kolwezi? If I remember correctly, American aircraft were involved as they didnt have their own handy. I wonder whether that was what you were preparing for? I will look it up and report back.

I was wondering when this would come up... How does one find out when things have been declassified?

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

That was the operation we were alerted for and later scrubbed. It would have been my "sixth" jump.....

Well, it took the heat off us. Our excursions into Angola were frowned upon by everyone and his dog, so any distraction was welcomed. I think you guys had a similar problem going into Laos during your Vietnam punchup?

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

That was the operation we were alerted for and later scrubbed. It would have been my "sixth" jump.....

Would that be 6th Combat jumps Team?

[mark46th]

"Well, it took the heat off us. Our excursions into Angola were frowned upon by everyone and his dog, so any distraction was welcomed. I think you guys had a similar problem going into Laos during your Vietnam punchup? "

Guy- The U.S. being in Laos wasn't a well kept secret.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Would that be 6th Combat jumps Team?

LOL, nope, my sixth jump period.

I enlisted in Jan 1978, went to basic training, infantry training, airborne school and landed at Ft. Bragg and was assigned to 1-505 within 24 hours of my arrival. They were going to war. It was the fastest "in processing" I've ever seen.
"Welcome, here's your gun and ammo, we're going to war!"

[Inflexible Six]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Inflexible, the bad news is, the subs are sunk and the destroyers are destroyed, but the good news is...........the beer isnt finished yet.

I'll drink to that.

[Inflexible Six]

Originally Posted by mark46th

"Well, it took the heat off us. Our excursions into Angola were frowned upon by everyone and his dog, so any distraction was welcomed. I think you guys had a similar problem going into Laos during your Vietnam punchup? "

Guy- The U.S. being in Laos wasn't a well kept secret.

Nope. The US lost more than 100 helos during Lam Son 719. Hard to keep that secret.