Airlanding School India
An Account of a Parachute Hang Up During Parachute Training at Chaklala December 1944
An account from an unidentified RAF Airgunner flying as a passenger who witnessed a parachute hangup during training at Chaklala airfield in India.
about An Account of a Parachute Hang Up During Parachute Training at Chaklala December 1944
by ParaData Editor
Airborne Assault is grateful for Marks & Spencer's support of ParaData in memory of the late Major John Timothy MC**, a distinguished and brave officer, and long serving M&S employee.
Chaklala was a delightful place to be compared with Bilaspur - sunny mountain air rather than steamy jungle heat. This was how most of us saw it. More objectively, it was a happy, highly efficient organisation.
At the time of my two week course, September 1945, all the flying was done with Dakotas, but earlier in 1945 Halifaxes were also in use. Another thing I remember is that by this time jumping from balloons had been discontinued. They said this was because of difficult air conditions. In this context, one report I heard from within the regiment was that in early 1945 someone had experienced the strange effect of an up-current which for a time carried his parachute upwards instead of downwards !
The only other snippet I have is that the RAF Sgt Instructor (seated cross-legged bottom left in the group photograph of trainees including members from 159 Regiment) said he had been despatching paratroops over Arnhem "this time last year".