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Regular Joe
 
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Last Login: Today @ 7:46 AM
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| I never heard anyone say that a stand up landing could get you an article15 but I did see one guy land standing up. He seem really proud of himself until his chute (which by now had landed on the ground and was nearly deflated) was caught by a nice big gust and pulled him off is feet and drug him about 15 to 20 feet face down on Sicily. Man that was funny. As for dropping the ruck I always dropped mine as I approached the trees. Always worked for me and no one ever complained.
Its only paranoia when they prove you wrong.
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Trooper
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Last Login: 4/3/2008 12:34 AM
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| From my rapidly fading memory as Recon mentioned we had our packs hooked to the harness and it was released once you got on your feet (no quick release feature on a T10 then.) on the DZ. You had to run around the canopy or get drug across the DZ. Of course the pack at your knees in front under the reserve made running a challenge. BARs, LMGs(1919 series) were jumped in a Griswald container which was hooked to the reserve D ring on the the jumpers left side and had a top and bottom(heavy cotton cord) tie down. after getting your opening shock you undid the bottom tie down and landed preferbly doing a right PLF. Had a buddy jumping a BAR and both Griswald tie downs came loose in the blast. He hit the ground and the BAR got underneath him and he screwed up his back when he landed on 19.5 lbs of BAR. Spent about 2months in the hospital and was declared unfit for further Airborne assignments. 3.5 RL and mortars were jumped in GP bags which were released at 50 to 100 feet after first clearing to make sure there was no one below. The you could jump up to 150 lbs in a GP bag if my memory is correct. M-1 Rifles were usually jumped by wrapping the the reciever with cloth (an old t shirt)and tape and putting either tape or cloth over the front sight. The M-1 went under the belly band on the left side with the sling over your left shoulder and secured with cord to the parachute harness at the top. there was no bottom tie down when jumping an M-1 like this. There were some cases where the M-1 was jumped in a Griswald container in that case the bottom tie down was released after the opening shock and clearing yourself from other jumpers like with a BAR or LMG. The PAE bag sounds like a Griswald container. But as far as I knew the Griswalds were seldom dropped back then although if I'm not mistaken there was that capability. As far as I knew there was a rule about article 15 for standing landings , however in the 50's and early 60's it was difficult to do and could only be done on Hollywood jumps. I heard tales of people making a standing land by getting a slip into the wind and releasing the slip just in time to stand . Never saw a standing landing or heard of anyone getting an article 15.
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Angry White Male
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Standing landing? In my dreams. I always hit like a sack of shit. But then again, at 200 lbs, I guess I was considered a "heavy drop."
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Paratrooper
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The short time my assigned weapon was the M1 Garand, we jumped with it in a bag strapped to the left side of the harness. The flap to open the bag was at the bottom, so you could if necessary remove the weapon from the bag while still strapped to the harness and while lying on the ground. When I went in the A-1/17 Cav Recon HQ Plt and for the rest of my enlistment, my assigned weapon was the M2 Carbine which we jumped in a much small weapons bag, but very similar to the Garand bag. Jumping with the M1 was like jumping with a tree trunk strapped to your left side. I don't ever remember jumping with an uncovered weapon.
RJ 
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Trooper
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Last Login: 4/3/2008 12:34 AM
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| Talking about jumping the M-1 I never jumped it in a bag, always covered on the left side in both the 11th, 82nd and 8th Div Abn bde. As far as the carbine can't remember how we jumped it. I want to say covered just like the M-1. If Recon jumped a Griswald container it could be lengthened or shortened for different weapons from a carbine to a BAR.
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Paratrooper
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Dutch (4/3/2008)
If Recon jumped a Griswald container it could be lengthened or shortened for different weapons from a carbine to a BAR. That is probably true. I have to take your word for the Griswald, that sounds about right. And standing PLF, definite Art 15 if caught. Never saw anyone attempt one.
RJ
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82nd_Raider
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| I had one guy come through my risers. He popped his cape release wells and pulls his reserve. After landing, the Battery Commander tells him to be prepared for art. 15, and walks over to me and wants to know if I told him to pop his reserve chute. I said "No, sir. I was prepared to ride down together". Little did I know then how close I came to a '15.
All the way, sir!!! 
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Paratrooper
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Ever have a delayed opening? I did once, thought my harness had removed the family jewels. Scared the hell out of me.
RJ
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