2RHPZ
10-02-2004, 04:32 AM
They also served who only did the packing
Published on 01/10/2004
IT was really wonderful to see again the “crowds” of parachutes dropping from the heavens “upon the place beneath” 60 years after both events took place.
The two events, of course, were D Day and Arnhem.
Sixty years on, it was enthralling to see the sky crowded with modern parachutes, some bearing aged and brave survivors still able to strap themselves into a harness and control the rigging lines and some, whose years or infirmities ruled out controlling the drop themselves, still brave enough to descend in “double harness”.
And yet there was something missing from the reviews of both events. There was no mention of the people who dedicated themselves to packing all the parachutes nor of the patience and skills that ensured a safe drop when the packages were used.
Martin Middlebrook, the author of Arnhem 1944. The airborne battle 17-26 September, which is accepted as the definitive book on Arnhem, includes a comment on the hard work put in by RAF and WAAF ground staffs at the airfields whose daily tasks were the packing of the chutes used by all aircrews, as well as the careful packing of thousands of parachutes at a central packing unit near Hereford.
This unit was No 6 Mobile Parachute Servicing Unit (MPSU) at RAF Credenhill.
He even presented a signed copy of his book to my late wife, Majorie, who was one of the packers serving at RAF Credenhill, RAF Ringway, and RAF Crosby-on-Eden.
When she and I attended one or two of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the Paratroopers in 1990, surviving paratroopers, on finding out that one of their guests had packed the “brollies” they had trained with at RAF Ringway, virtually rolled out the red carpet, and soon afterwards suggested that the Airborne Brotherhood at Aldershot be told of the work she had done and that she be made a member.
Unfortunately this couldn’t be done because to become a member at least one descent had to be made, and the packers were not allowed to make drops.
Instead she was made an Honorary Member and that certainly delighted her. More recently she was awarded a Certificate of Commendation posthumously for the work she and others did at Ringway in the early Forties.
WG JACKSON
Shawk Crescent
Thursby
Link (http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=140910)
Published on 01/10/2004
IT was really wonderful to see again the “crowds” of parachutes dropping from the heavens “upon the place beneath” 60 years after both events took place.
The two events, of course, were D Day and Arnhem.
Sixty years on, it was enthralling to see the sky crowded with modern parachutes, some bearing aged and brave survivors still able to strap themselves into a harness and control the rigging lines and some, whose years or infirmities ruled out controlling the drop themselves, still brave enough to descend in “double harness”.
And yet there was something missing from the reviews of both events. There was no mention of the people who dedicated themselves to packing all the parachutes nor of the patience and skills that ensured a safe drop when the packages were used.
Martin Middlebrook, the author of Arnhem 1944. The airborne battle 17-26 September, which is accepted as the definitive book on Arnhem, includes a comment on the hard work put in by RAF and WAAF ground staffs at the airfields whose daily tasks were the packing of the chutes used by all aircrews, as well as the careful packing of thousands of parachutes at a central packing unit near Hereford.
This unit was No 6 Mobile Parachute Servicing Unit (MPSU) at RAF Credenhill.
He even presented a signed copy of his book to my late wife, Majorie, who was one of the packers serving at RAF Credenhill, RAF Ringway, and RAF Crosby-on-Eden.
When she and I attended one or two of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the Paratroopers in 1990, surviving paratroopers, on finding out that one of their guests had packed the “brollies” they had trained with at RAF Ringway, virtually rolled out the red carpet, and soon afterwards suggested that the Airborne Brotherhood at Aldershot be told of the work she had done and that she be made a member.
Unfortunately this couldn’t be done because to become a member at least one descent had to be made, and the packers were not allowed to make drops.
Instead she was made an Honorary Member and that certainly delighted her. More recently she was awarded a Certificate of Commendation posthumously for the work she and others did at Ringway in the early Forties.
WG JACKSON
Shawk Crescent
Thursby
Link (http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=140910)