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Post by jonprince on Jun 30, 2007 8:25:15 GMT -5
Can anybody help with info on how to rig the U.S. plywood packboard for jumping by parachute as done by 187th PRCT. Was any sort of cut away/let down rope involved or was the packboard still attached during landing (which seems like a good way of getting a nasty landing injury!). Any help appreciated.
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Woodard
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Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Jul 3, 2007 16:25:12 GMT -5
I was looking at a Paratrooper book from 1954 today at work to try and answer your question. I found a pic of a guy with a large bag hanging just below his reserve chute (the book called it a General purpose bag), but didn't see any pics of guys with anything suspended below them when landing. The book looked like the kind of yearbook type thing you might get at jump school, so they may not have been jumping with a full load. I know the instruction sheet that comes with the packboard doesn't say anything about parachuting. If I find anything else I'll post it.
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Post by jonprince on Jul 11, 2007 21:50:28 GMT -5
Cheers, appreciate it. I was chasing an early 50's rigger manual on E-bay a while ago but lost it, so I know the answer must be out there somewhere. The pics. I have of 187th with packboards are all of them emplaining, none actually dropping. No obvious drop line is visible and they seem to be attached to the harness fairly securely by the packboard straps (though one packboard strap does have a quick release of sorts built in I seem to recall  ) but it just seems to me a bad idea to land with it attached across the front of your knees and pelvis. But then I suppose the US way at the time did tend to be for kit to be attached to the man all the way down to the ground, maybe I'm just thinking in too British a way, we'd have used drop bags and let-down lines or at least jerry-rigged something. Thanks for your help anyway, will have to keep looking. |
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Woodard
Global Moderator
Posts: 379
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Post by Woodard on Jul 12, 2007 16:44:54 GMT -5
 The 187th Jumping north of Pyongyang, 1950  Photos from "Paratrooper" (1954) showing a "GP" bag suspended during landing. |
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Post by jonprince on Jul 13, 2007 11:57:43 GMT -5
Excellent, thanks for the pics.
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) but it just seems to me a bad idea to land with it attached across the front of your knees and pelvis. But then I suppose the US way at the time did tend to be for kit to be attached to the man all the way down to the ground, maybe I'm just thinking in too British a way, we'd have used drop bags and let-down lines or at least jerry-rigged something. Thanks for your help anyway, will have to keep looking.