The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
By JOHN A. RETCHMANN


 Washington, Dec. 28.-(UP)-The army will be prepared to use the overhead" tactics employed by Germany against Norway, Denmark, Holland and other countries when and if parachute and airplane troops can perform a given mission better than any other combat group.
 Little has been written about the training of parachute troops at Fort Benning, Ga, because much of the practice, equipment and tactics are regarded as secret. But every clear-weather day the volun- teers who go into the parachute service are training at jumping, tumbling and the use of arms.
 At Fort Sam Houston, Tex, ex- periments are being conducted in the creation of airplane companies whose personnel can be flown be- hind enemy lines to take and hold positions. It is difficult to determine which branch is likely to be the more hazardous and exciting. Soldier Folds Own Chute
 Training of the parachutist be- gins with his most important ad- junct-the parachute itself. He is taught to fold his chute carefully, how to pack it. Unlike the avaitor, he does this work himself to give him confidence in his chute. To handle himself in his descent he is ulaced in 8 rigging exactly like that his parachute carries. He has only 40 seconds in the air when dropping, since the plane deliver ing him to his object flies at low altitude. He must be alert and ready to go into action immediately on landing.
 For this reason he must know how to bring his chute down, either by pulling it sideways into the wind or running around behind it. This prevents his being pulled along the ground, helpless. He must know how to handle the cords so that he will not oscillate on the way down. He must break his fall by pulling him. self upward as he near the ground.
 The troopers are dropped in groups of 12. They can clear plane in 10 seconds and be ready for action 30 seconds later. The chutes are opened automatically as each leaves the plane but every man car- ries spare in case anything goes wrong.
 Can Drop Smoke Bomb
 Training officers do not believe that parachutist is good target for men on the ground. The descent is fairly rapid and the chutist can easily drop a smoke bomb or hand grenade-both discouraging to good marksmanship-or even handle a revolver fairly well.
 The airplane troops have not been fully developed. They presumably would descend by plane at points previously protested by parachute troops.
 Each plane of a contemplated 13- plane unit would descend fully equipped for action with a formid- able array of armaments. The trouble with this type of troop movement is that the plane must land at a designated spot, whether it is a pototo patch or a ditch. Of- ficers believe that every plane so used by Germany was casualty.
 Two 37-mm, anti-tank guns, with crews and ammunition, can be car ried in one transport plan Other planes would carry 30 and 50- cali Der machines guns, 81-mm. mortars, ammunition and the crews to man them, as well as an assortment of rifle and pistolmen.
 Operating with parachute troop CTS, such a unit, officers believe, would be formidable if turned against vital supply or strategic areas in the rear of enemy troops.
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