During the night of September 11 to 12, 2020, a parachute unit from the Groupement tactique desert (GTD) Bruno jumped into the heart of the Malian Gourma in order to seize a transit area frequently used by the Armed Terrorist Groups (GAT). Photo credit: French Ministry of Defence […]
In honor of the the heroic actions of the British 1st Airborne Division during “Operation Market-Garden” in September 1944, the Old Time Design Company have published a second part to their photo study of a typical British Paratrooper of the time… Upon landing, this Parachutist removes his parachute harness readies his equipment. He is an […]
The Army Film and Photographic Unit was a subdivision of the British armed forces set up on 24 October 1941, to record military events in which the British and Commonwealth armies was engaged. AFPU photographers and cameramen were recruited from all over the Army, with many of them having been press photographers or cameramen in […]
In honor of the 76th anniversary of “Operation Market-Garden” and the heroic action of the British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem, our friends at the Old Time Design Company have published a fantastic recreation of how typical troopers would have been dressed and equipped for the drop. Part 1: Men of the XXI Independent Parachute […]
The exercise “FALL WIND 2020” has mobilized nearly 500 Legionnaire paratroopers throughout Balagne for a week. The first phase involved dropping divers of the nautical company at sea from French Air Force helicopters to scout the enemy bastion of the Ile Rousse. After 36 hours of fierce fight in the maquis against opposing force, the […]
“Take cover! Bring up the PIAT!” – Anthony Hopkins as Colonel John Frost of the British Parachute Regiment in the movie “A Bridge Too Far”. The issuing of that command on-screen was my first introduction to the rather odd looking, and oddly named, “Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank”, or PIAT for short. The first light anti-tank […]
On 1 September 2020, during a ceremony at the Boeing Ridley Park, Philadelphia (PA) facility, Boeing delivered the first MH-47G Chinook Block II to the US Army. The US Army appears to stalling the replacement of its current fleet of CH-47F helicopters with the improved CH-47F Chinook Block II, but the US Special Operations Command […]
The French Air Force’s jump school, École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP), last week conducted the final parachute jumps from the C-160 Transall aircraft as it is retired from service. The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft, produced as a joint venture between France and Germany that has been in service for more than […]
Airborne’s been practicing safe social distancing since before it was cool…. Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade make their way to an aircraft in preparation for airborne operations. When they jump the Jumpmasters will maintain a one-second interval between jumpers, jumpers will maintain a sharp lookout during descent to avoid fellow jumpers, will slip right […]
In honor of National Airborne Day yesterday, and to give credit where it’s due to these other pioneers and unsung heroes… The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was nicknamed “Triple Nickles” because of its numerical designation and because 17 of its original 24 “colored test platoon” were from the 92nd Infantry (“Buffalo Soldiers”) Division of the […]