Attended Abingdon as a Parachute Regiment recruit (292 Plt) in 1965 x2 from a balloon & 6 from fixed wing to gain wings, went on to serve 6yrs with 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. We all loved being at Abingdon, excellent food, exciting experiences with the parachute training and not being chased by our army instructors from dawn to dusk!
Hasn't been a combat jump since suez 1956 for the brits The french did one in 1978 Rhodesians did many upto 1979 and south africans Upto 1994 americans grenada 1983 and Belgians congo 1964 Also israelies 1967
My Dad was a training officer at RAF Abingdon in the late 60s. As a small children he would take us into that hanger and we would play on the ramps and in the fuselage. We would also watch the soldiers training. I especially remember them jumping out of a door high up near the roof. Dad would sometimes wrap me into one of those harnesses and leave me dangling there. Unfortunately he was killed in 1971 in an accident. Seeing this brought back memories.
Great video mate, thank you🙏 Top Malo House is an often overlooked battle of the Falklands war, in my opinion. ML’s bring a massive capability, which is unique, to the U.K. armed forces, and as indispensable as ever! 🇬🇧 👍
@kingjohnsobieski3 "Character building" wasn't it? lol. I think my worst was chemical warfare trials before I went to 21, low level night jumps in North Germany in full NBC kit and full equipment, you never saw the ground until you hit it!
I worked with JATE and The Joint Services Free Fall Trials Team AT RAF Abingdon as their DZ MEDIC in the 1970s, it was quite an experience, watching and covering HALO drops at night to various DZs around the region, also heavy drops
Blimey I was 13 in 1960 and in 150 City of Oxford ATC. We used to go to Abingdon for visits, got to do the parachute training and did all the jumps in the hangar, the tower and yes even the balloon. We were allowed up in the Beverleys (and Comets and 'Whispering Giants' at Lyneham) but couldn't jump out of the aircraft. My aunt and Uncle lived at Dry Sandford right under the flight path from Abingdon and they swear one evening a Beverley hit their TV aerial. And they lived in a bungalow!
1963 air cadets Abingdon summer camp, too small to train on equipment even at 16, so went to East Anglian PC club and jumped at 3300 feet from a Percival Prentice, fun days.
Me too. 150 City of Oxford Squadron. In '63 I was 16 and going off to an apprenticeship but we got to do all the jumps except from the Beverleys. I did a couple of jumps years later for charity.
Watched all this happen, in 1967, when I spent 8 weeks at RAF Abingdon on an Air Movements course. Despite being in the RAF, you wouldn’t get me jumping out of an aircraft 😂 Great time there.
Yr right , the X type chute was still in service then - 28' canopy - and you had to pull down on the lift webs or it would oscillate , PX came in - 32' canopy and no oscillation , sticks slowed down as the PJIs try to maintain a stagger between port and starboard sticks as blokes could go under the tail and collide with the other stick - progress eh lol .
Stationed at RAF Abington on 71MU ,in the hangar just opposite where the jumping bean towers were , ( cut down before I was posted in ) - only people who jump from perfectly serviceable aeroplanes are the dopes on a rope --- they have my full respect , great to see the Beverly again
you win your beret by passing P Coy Airborne Forces selection first , then go on to get yr wings , if you search on P Company you'll see how it works - hope that helps .
Don't knock the Para with the guitar 'Jimmy Hendrix was in the 101st Airborne Division 😂💪👍
Attended Abingdon as a Parachute Regiment recruit (292 Plt) in 1965 x2 from a balloon & 6 from fixed wing to gain wings, went on to serve 6yrs with 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
We all loved being at Abingdon, excellent food, exciting experiences with the parachute training and not being chased by our army instructors from dawn to dusk!
1963, loved Abingdon,as you say 2 x balloon and 6 day and night for wings.
Great video. Reflections from a bygone era, when Great Britain still had part of its empire. What a fabulous country with a wonderful military.
It still does and still is a good country.
Hasn't been a combat jump since suez 1956 for the brits
The french did one in 1978
Rhodesians did many upto
1979 and south africans
Upto 1994 americans grenada
1983 and Belgians congo 1964
Also israelies 1967
Brilliant, so glad they made this film. Wonder if they made one on P Coy in the 60’s?
@@classicalhollywood3254 Yep for some but not for the indigenous tribe.😡
conscription was crippling us and we gave up aden
My Dad was a training officer at RAF Abingdon in the late 60s. As a small children he would take us into that hanger and we would play on the ramps and in the fuselage. We would also watch the soldiers training. I especially remember them jumping out of a door high up near the roof. Dad would sometimes wrap me into one of those harnesses and leave me dangling there. Unfortunately he was killed in 1971 in an accident. Seeing this brought back memories.
Sorry to hear about your father. Per Ardua Ad Astra. I too have found memories of my time there, 1967.
A lovely story (except for the ending) thanks for sharing.
Great video mate, thank you🙏
Top Malo House is an often overlooked battle of the Falklands war, in my opinion.
ML’s bring a massive capability, which is unique, to the U.K. armed forces, and as indispensable as ever! 🇬🇧 👍
Did mine there as 562 Para.RCT(V) in 1971...Sgt.Casey as my PJI.
Did mine in 1977 at Brize and Flt Sgt "Butch" Casey was also our PJI, mans a legend.
This takes me back lol. I did mine with 3 Coy, 10 Para in 1970. Now we have just 1 reserve batt. left, God help us!
@kingjohnsobieski3 That green light sure focussed the mind! lol, only 1 (4 Para) rserve batt. left now.
@kingjohnsobieski3 "Character building" wasn't it? lol. I think my worst was chemical warfare trials before I went to 21, low level night jumps in North Germany in full NBC kit and full equipment, you never saw the ground until you hit it!
It only takes 4 weeks to train a parachutist ! It's not rocket science! Anyone can do it!
@@garagenigel Two in the British Army, how many military jumps have you done?
@@johnallen7807 it's four weeks pal and it's an RAF course! How many jumps have you done?? Haha!
Anyone else see the thumbnail for this video & think the Para was a young Steve Buscemi?
The balloon raised an eyebrow or two but enjoyed the two Hercules jumps
UK misses its glorious past!
I worked with JATE and The Joint Services Free Fall Trials Team AT RAF Abingdon as their DZ MEDIC in the 1970s, it was quite an experience, watching and covering HALO drops at night to various DZs around the region, also heavy drops
I feel like a nice cup of tea and a biscuit after watching that
Blimey I was 13 in 1960 and in 150 City of Oxford ATC. We used to go to Abingdon for visits, got to do the parachute training and did all the jumps in the hangar, the tower and yes even the balloon. We were allowed up in the Beverleys (and Comets and 'Whispering Giants' at Lyneham) but couldn't jump out of the aircraft.
My aunt and Uncle lived at Dry Sandford right under the flight path from Abingdon and they swear one evening a Beverley hit their TV aerial. And they lived in a bungalow!
health and safety wouldnt even let you march in the rain these days
1963 air cadets Abingdon summer camp, too small to train on equipment even at 16, so went to East Anglian PC club and jumped at 3300 feet from a Percival Prentice, fun days.
Me too. 150 City of Oxford Squadron. In '63 I was 16 and going off to an apprenticeship but we got to do all the jumps except from the Beverleys.
I did a couple of jumps years later for charity.
Lucky bugger. We weren't so lucky in ATC in the 1980s.
Oh and we had lots of flights, Beverley to Wales, and Para drops at Benson.
Its cool that the Padre had a go too 😂😂
Watched all this happen, in 1967, when I spent 8 weeks at RAF Abingdon on an Air Movements course. Despite being in the RAF, you wouldn’t get me jumping out of an aircraft 😂 Great time there.
When Britain was Britain
Great Brittainistan...
When Britain was Great Britain
Ireland was… wait.
It still is
Bore off! Let me guess a Tory voter? 😂
I thought that was Steve Buscemi in the thumbnail preview.
Awesome!
Some of the best troops in the forces .Hard as iron 😊😊
i did abingdon in 1965 ,the sticks seem a lot tighter then than they do now.and i;m sure them x type chutes are a lot smaller than the ones used now.
Yr right , the X type chute was still in service then - 28' canopy - and you had to pull down on the lift webs or it would oscillate , PX came in - 32' canopy and no oscillation , sticks slowed down as the PJIs try to maintain a stagger between port and starboard sticks as blokes could go under the tail and collide with the other stick - progress eh lol .
@@jaquesdaniels2964 yes i remember when we converted to the C130 ,you had to exit one port then one starboard and so on .didn't all ways work.
300+ sports parachute jumps in the Afcent parachute club. I was given American wings but never the real thing :(
Just spotted the chaplain at 5:04 !
Bootneck did mine Jan 82
Stationed at RAF Abington on 71MU ,in the hangar just opposite where the jumping bean towers were , ( cut down before I was posted in ) - only people who jump from perfectly serviceable aeroplanes are the dopes on a rope --- they have my full respect , great to see the Beverly again
3:25 Release Please !
Been there, wore the T-shirt..........
Did mine at Brize
likewise in 1985
68 when I earned my wings.
forget all that fine young men crap an extra £2 -12-6 a week para pay was a lot of beer money.
It hadn't changed much by the 1970s.
8:04 Is that a patch on the parachute?
JACK already has his Red Beret, why is he made to look so nervous, I mean to get the Beret means he already did his jumps, I'm confused.
you win your beret by passing P Coy Airborne Forces selection first , then go on to get yr wings , if you search on P Company you'll see how it works - hope that helps .
I joined in 63, you were given your beret on joining in them days.
Lol at recruitment tactics for ta... it's expensive jumping from a plane come & do it for free