Balloon winches

[kebecker]

from 1984, practice for D Day aniverary drops in Normandy, any one know the airfield?

pictures from from DoD image site

DoD site has location as unknown

[Carnaby]

It's Hullavington - the runway with the 'X' is the south-easterly end of the shorter one.

[PNK]

But did they use the "cartwheel" ?

[canberra]

Were the US Forces using the "fritz" helmet in 84? I was wondering if it was in fact 94.

[PETERTHEEATER]

I could find only info relating to a 1994 anniversary so maybe the OP is in error?

[canberra]

I couldnt recall a para drop at the 40th annivesary of overlord thats why I asked about the fritz helmet. It must also have one of the last ballon jumps as well.

[kebecker]

went back to the DoD site to recheck. The captions on this site sometimes raise a smile, see the one below (well he is British and he is wearing a parachute!);

A member of the 82nd Airborne Division and British paratrooper prepare to jump from a tethered balloon in preparation for a jump into Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France, on on the 40th anniversary of D-day, the invasion of Europe.
Photographer's Name: SPC 5 GEORGE IZERLocation: unknown
Date Shot: 6/2/1984


According to that well know and "highly accurate' Wikipeadia;

The PASGT Helmet was developed in 1975 and replaced the steel M1 Helmet in US service during the 1980s. It first saw use in combat in 1983 during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, became standard issue for the armed forces in 1985.

So I suppose the picture could be from 1984?

[canberra]

Well thats me put in my place!!

And of course the film "Heratbreak ridge" set in 1983 has them wearing fritz helmets, DOH!

[kebecker]

Forgot about that film, but I had doubts about the dates too

[canberra]

Another thing that should have told me it was 84 rather than 94 was the flying suit that the PJI was wearing. They started wearing a green flying suit in the late eighties.