Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-09
Parachu+is+
Trains Like
Star Athlete
aid to Be First
in Developing Art
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

MOST OF our officers say that
Ava our army was the first 10
experiment and develop al least
the principles of parachute at
tacks.
The story OF some line officers
Is that they proved the tactics.
including the transportation of
light cannon and cars, that ac-
credited German servers
watched il. took il home, inn
proved il, gave it also 10 the
Russians-and that our general
staff filed il for reference.
There is something of this his
tory in nearly all American de-
velopment of new weapons-the
submarine, repeating rifles, the
airpIane, armored ships, the
caterpillar-tread making pos
sible the tank. smokeless powder
and several less conspicuous in
stances.
Well. we are catching up fast
and in some things going ahead.
While il is just getting good
start our organization. training
and equipment of parachute
troops are very encouraging.
In the first place the men are
chosen as a football team is Sc
lected. The physical require
ments arc far above those for
any other troops. The men must
have completed at least one en-
listment-trained soldiers at the
outset. Even after this rigorous
selection. there is a preliminary
period of 90 days and further
weeding-out in practice.
THEY go into a period OF
physical conditioning as Sc
we're as that of any professional
boxer - no liquor, not even
cigarets or tobacco except at
long intervals. and then for only
a day and that is merely TO Off
set the danger of being trained
too fine.
The idea is that each one OF
these armed athletes must be at
least the equal of an infantry
squad.
They carry tommy sub-ma-
chine guns and a small armory
of auxiliary weapons.
They are accomplished grena-
diers, educated not only 10
expert craftsmanship but also
trained and equipped for all the
arts of demolition by explosives
to destroy bridges, rails, roads
and military obstacles.
They also must have an Off
GERS background knowledge of
at least minor tactics TO recog-
nize key points at a glance and
know what TO do about them.
/ TT IS a dangerous service con-
i tributing more than its share
of crippled ankles and broken
legs.
This. I am told, Is not because
of anything especially hazardous
/ in the ordinary "bailing out
from the usual high elevations,
which is fairly safe, except for
misadventures.
But these boys don't jump
from the usual high elevations. :
Their object is TO shove of
from as close to the ground as
possible.
A man dangling from a para
chute slowly floating down from
3 a great, Snssht Is abDa. ar sNseSv
less as a caterpillar in a cocoon.
His coming is advertised.
He makes lovely swinging
target COR enemy airplanes and
almost as good one for handy
wing-shots on the ground.
Also, 10 be most effective.
these boys must be spotted, as a
surprise, on the map at just the
points where they are most
needed and not sprinkled all
over the landscape.
For these reasons the idea is
TO drop them as close 10 the
ground as possible-as low as
200 feet or, it is hoped, even
lower.
THIS attainment is in an eX-
Il perimental or development
stage, which probably accounts
for the injuries.
These parachutes are different
in that they have no rip-cords
for the trooper toe pull.
There is no time at low altl-
tudes TO count "1-2-3."
The parachute is opened inn
mediately by an attachment 10
the plane and sometimes con-
ditions are not right TO break
and cushion the fall enough 10
prevent a disastrous bump
These new troops are becom-
ing a priced. proud corps d'elite
like aviation aces or subma-
rine suicide crews.
The service is voluntary and
eagerly sought.
II is about the highest indi-
vidual responsibility to be at
tanned by an enlisted man.
The daring that would seek