Evening star., 1940-07-07
Discusses Details of
Parachute Truininq
By Frederic J. Haskin.

parachute warfare ard it Is expected
that officers will be detailed to such
National Guard units as desire them to
extend the teaching of this newest type
of military art as widely as possible.
Certain 1t is that, should universal
military service be made compulsory,
training in parachute tactics will be an
important part of the course.
1t is notable fact that whenever any
new type of fighting is developed by ma
tion, other nations seek to initiate it and
the use of parachutes for invasion is no
exception. To the end that it may be
fully informed on the technique OF
parachute fighting, the War Department
has possessed itself Of every detail con-
corning the course of training given
soldiers selected for this type of duty in
Germany.
Parachute warfare, of course, was not
invented in Germany. 1t was first used
in Russia by the Soviet Army, where the
Russians performed some spectacular
stunts in maneuvers. The German high
command has taken the Russia lesson to
heart, but has improved immensely upon
the instruction.
Probably the principal difference be-
tween the Russian and German para
chute tactics is that the Russians dropped
their parachutists from great attitudes.
The German technique is to drop their
men from surprisingly low attitudes.
Better parachutes which open more
quickly have made this possible. The
result is that the man is in the air,
where he is an especially vulnerable
target, for much shorter space.
1t has been suggested that, even as
the Germans have improved upon Rus
sian teaching, so the United States Army
will make further Improvements as will
the British. For one thing, consideration
Is being given the possibility of enabling
the parachutist to shoot even while in
the air Probably some special type OF
revolver will be designed for this purpose.
The parachutist's arms are free during
descent, but it is scarcely to be expected
that he would prove much of marksman
while twisting and turning in the air.
But, should he find himself falling near
an enemy, he could commence firing at
once.
In Germany the first training starts
in huge building, specially designed.
1t is OF great height, greater than the
average armory or auditorium. From
the ceiling hang training fixtures which
are to simulate the airplane. The trainee
Is raised by sort of derrick and then
let fall quite distance. He lands on a
huge, mattresslike pad. This is known
as falling practice.
There Is a closely related comparison
between the training Of a parachutist
and circus acrobat. The first thing an
acrobat learns is how to fall This Is
regarded as the most vital part of
parachutist's training. The danger of
injury in falling is large. A sprained
ankle, broken leg means that the man
is of little use for the particular kind Of
work such troops are expected to per-
form. II the guy ropes Of . parachute
become entangled or If q man Is thrown
of poise by striking the branches Of .
tree, bad landing is likely to be made.
Also, there is the strong likelihood that
he may strike very rough or broken
ground such as plowed field. He
must be highly trained to minimize the
risk Of being put out Of commission by
initial injury from simple contact with
the earth.
Instructors carefully watch every prac.
tice fall and criticize the faults observed.
The man tries again and again. Then
the training moves out of doors. Prac.
tice stages are erected at the height
from the ground which would cause the
same shock man would experience
dropping in parachute. This stage is
built to stimulate an airplane door and
the trainee must jump through this door
from rather awkward, half STOPPING DO.
sition. These stages are built for the
first out-of-door practice on q grass
campus The fall, Of course. is much
harder than on the mattress pad In.
doors. The trainee must learn what to
do with his body when falling in any
position. for it is difficult for the para.
chutist to know at just what angle he
will strike the earth
There Is technique for falling at an
angle calculated to cause the parachut.
ist to fall forward on his face, another
when he strikes on his heels and keels
over backward. No possible angle Of
fall Is omitted from the training. To
begin with, all the recruits are young:
indeed, not few of those taken pris.
oner in the Low Countries were no
more than is years of age. The danger
OF breaking bones In the young Is much
less than in older men whose bones have
begun to grow brittle.
Attention Is given to teaching the
youth how to detach himself from his
parachute in the least possible time, for it
instantly becomes hindrance to him.
More than . hindrance, an outright
danger for a sudden gust of wind might
well drag him off his feet and perhaps
put him out Of commission completely.
At least it would lengthen the period
in which he is unable to defend himself.
4 X
The training, of course, includes the
handling of the equipment which he has
or which, as with machine guns, Is
dropped separately. The German tech
nique has been to drop two men and
then a third parachute carrying
machine gun and its ammunition. In
training under favorable circumstances.