RLTW, kinda... :] - Page 2

SF18C · 02-22-2013, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnSurfin

The tradition is still alive and well. The only thing that has changed is the name of the company. I've got a few RT jumps and theres nothing like jumping off the tailgate and seeing a forest beneath you.

Too cool, I think I like you! Mntgoat was in B co with me back in the "olden days" (circa 93ish)

longrange1947 · 02-22-2013, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnSurfin

The tradition is still alive and well. The only thing that has changed is the name of the company. I've got a few RT jumps and theres nothing like jumping off the tailgate and seeing a forest beneath you.

Went to Rough Terrain School in Taiwan in 71. 1st Group (Oki) sent a team down there about every other course. Hit a rice paddy that had just been filled, hard as rock with a thin layer of scum. Missed the road between the two paddies but he chute landed on the road so I didn't have a bad shake out. Fuzzy Thurston hit a rock wall full tilt as we crashed through the tree/brush. Knocked him a bit senseless for a bit. Get times and stories on that trip, great 30 day course, great 20+ jumps.

The team before us had a Lt step on a tree branch to retrieve his chute and slice his Scrotum open. Shouldn't have removed his jump suit.

Richard · 02-23-2013, 08:19

No guarantees with military parachuting which is why there is hazardous duty pay.

Everything's a go and some jumper makes a weak exit, has a triple Mae West, deploys his reserve, and drifts off into the woods.

You compute for the winds...and the air goes dead as the a/c approaches on final.

The winds have been calm the entire time you've been preparing the DZ...and all of a sudden pick up for no reason just as the first jumper exits the a/c.

You compute wind direction...and damn if they don't begin to swirl or change direction coming out of some friggin canyon or such once the jumpers are out (happend to us near Heber Canyon, UT).

Time of day and a jumper or two hit a thermal...and off they drift into the only copse of trees for 20 miles around.

And then there's AWADS...and you never know what you'll see until you break through the clouds at 200' AGL. Surprise.

It's a calculated risk - and s**t happens...and I still miss it all.

Richard

blue02hd · 02-23-2013, 08:53

It's my opinion that civilian stories like this only help those with limited understanding of the routine requirements our military places on soldiers. Most civilians would never even consider jumping from a perfectly good airplane, let alone at night, with xxx pounds of equipment made by the lowest bidder. I miss my days as a Ragnar in Ft Lewis.

Not enough to go back though,,,,,,

MR2 · 02-23-2013, 09:17

It's just how we sometimes go to work.

What's that old saying... Trees Happen!

and what Richard says...

longrange1947 · 02-23-2013, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

No guarantees with military parachuting which is why there is hazardous duty pay.

.......................................

And then there's AWADS...and you never know what you'll see until you break through the clouds at 200' AGL. Surprise.

It's a calculated risk - and s**t happens...and I still miss it all.

Richard

Shut down McRidge Impact area in 88 due to an AWADS, We were on 66D when we heard chutes opening. HALO AWADS attempt on St Mere. They came down in the impact area behind 66 range complex. Similar to the debacles with CARP.

blue02hd · 02-23-2013, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by longrange1947

Shut down McRidge Impact area in 88 due to an AWADS, We were on 66D when we heard chutes opening. HALO AWADS attempt on St Mere. They came down in the impact area behind 66 range complex. Similar to the debacles with CARP.

So what kind of windage call did you make on a 3d ascending target..

Mr Furious · 02-23-2013, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinjefe

Shit happens. I had more than my share of tree landings in 1st Batt. It was the price you paid for doing night, CARP jumps with non-steerable parachutes.

Yup, sometimes even steerable ones too. Night CARP and that awkward moment when you realize you are screwed the second the chute opens. I was the door jumper and the SGM was #2. All of us trying to make it to the DZ the entire way down; the first three in the stick were doomed. I remember feeling like a pinball coming down through the oaks. I clearly remember the SGM yelling for all the wildlife to hear that he was going to kill the young Air Force Captain after he got down. I can laugh at it now, but wasn’t laughing then.

69harley · 02-23-2013, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

[COLOR="Lime"]
And then there's AWADS...and you never know what you'll see until you break through the clouds at 200' AGL.

200 Inches"? Those would be some pretty low clouds!

longrange1947 · 02-23-2013, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69harley

200 Inches"? Those would be some pretty low clouds!

AWADS was done in complete fog with "clouds" on the ground at times. It was a joke, AWADS that is.

69harley · 02-23-2013, 10:28

I remember AWADS all too well. Always got a chuckle when the Air Force said they could pin point heavy drop vehicles to within 15 meters.

Dusty · 02-23-2013, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by UWOA

Ahhhh, Gatun DZ. Heard a story while I was in Panama (don't know if it's true) about a night drop on Gatun DZ.

Seems one of the QPs went wide of the DZ and saw the reflection of the small canal (not Gatun Locks) adjacent to the DZ, and saw he was gonna land in it.

He prepared for a water landing, shedding his helmet, inflating his B-7 waterwings and releasing his ruck. He continued to watch the shimmer of the water as he descended and readied himself to hit the water ... until he made contact with the macadam road surface and felt the pain of contact with an unforgiving surface......

I broke my L5 on Gatun DZ in a situation similar to that in '90. They didn't XRay it 'til '92, and I got bitched at for not running well during PT the whole time.

They did a MRRB and took me off Jump Status, so I retired.