Freezing Arctic Airborne Operation
 

Freezing Arctic Airborne Operation
Posted 3 days ago by Member 30091762

Paratroopers conducted a unique "tailgate" jump, donning the complete arctic over-white winter uniform with ski equipment and the arctic sustainment packing list as a rehearsal for upcoming airborne operations in northern Alaska next year.


Personally, I've never liked jumping in VB boots. I remember how utterly still and quiet it is when jumping into the cold. Can anyone identify for me the type of parachutes they were using? Now how would you MFF those skis and an akieo?

Hm, looked like fun
 

Hm, looked like fun.

Real, real controlled (delayed) exits though.

An Ahkio (Sled, Scow-Type) is about 225 cm long, last Army skies I used were 210 cm. I can see an Ahkio done up in a bundle with the skies slabbed up against the sides.

Would jump snowshoes on the ruck - just in case.

Skies are faster for trained troops, snowshoes are quicker for untrained troops.

That's the T-11 system, I don't think there's an effective way to steer them, other than Providence. The current guidance is to pull as high up on one riser as you can, and it might do something.

Malemute
 

Anyone who has jumped Malemute DZ in the middle of the winter after a fresh 1-2ft of snow has dropped can say that coming off the DZ with all that equipment is a smoker.

That is a T-11 and T-11R. They were just fielded this year (at JBER). T-11's have slip assist tabs to assist the jumper in pulling their riser.

I was in the 6th ENG as my first unit and supported 501st done a number of Malemute DZ jumps. Fun times jumping in the snow. We on,y did snowshoes and door jumps. Not enough people could ski properly.

10Th and in a Mountain Team all we used was skies and jumped theme we typically did bundles, until someone, Jeff, made one burn it by throwing them out all crazy that UW/WET Sucked!!

Great memories of snow and military OPS. IADs were always fun. Thanks for the post!!

Only one chance
 

Only one chance at a jump in Alaska. A DZ right close to Ft Wainwright.

Jump was scrubbed with us standing up ready to go - seems the bears on the DZ didn't want to be run off and wanted to watch.

Donnelly Dome DZ ring any bells Pete? That was a nice one up there.

Wanted to watch, or were awaiting their "manna"?

VB boots and Cable bindings…
After 36 years, you would think there would be something new.
And I suspect they were at least 10 years old when we were using them in 78.
Let's try for a shoulder role... :D