but� I was still awarded an Aerial Delivery Certificate that I proudly show my Grandchildren. The preceding paragraph was not to impress anyone with what I have done (since many Paratroopers have done much� more) but only to let you know� what experiences I'm drawing from when I make the following comments.
(1)� I know this sounds boring but I never had a problem of any kind that was directly caused by a C119. The combination of the C119 and the T-10 parachute were ideal for jumping.
This was not the case with the T-7 chute. I never jumped a T-7 from a C119 but here is a quote from Bill Waters Jr. a Master Paratrooper who has.
"Then along came the C-119 a very good plane it was just ahead of the T-10 and the pilots
could only slow them down to around 135 knots. Now, with a old T-7 that made a lot of
difference when you got your opening shock, I can remember a lot of times jumping a GP
bag I would see stars when I got the opening shock.
"
The prop blast on the C119 would send you parallel to the plane for about 50 feet and then you would start to feel the fall.
(2)� Jumping a C119 from the rear with the clam shell removed was GREAT, no prop blast and you got a great sensation of the free fall from the aircraft.
I have been in a C119 when we dropped a fully loaded� jeep out the back and felt no noticeable movements� of the aircraft� as the� jeep exited .
(3)On mass drops we jumped C119 in V of 3's.
Once on a mass drop, I� had a poor body position on exiting a C119 and was blown under the plane to be tangled with a Trooper exiting the other side. My chute never opened and we rode his down!
I should point out this was not the fault of the Aircraft, we were violating standard instructions not to� races sticks ( see which side could exit the aircraft first the losers bought the beer) of course we always raced sticks.
(4) Never got Air sick on a C119 nor saw many Paratroopers that did.� It was a great flying machine.� We use to get PO at the Airman on the flights because we flew as much as they did on average and then jumped out� but their flight pay was more than our jump pay ($55 per month).
(5) Loved Night Jumps, at night , you could see the flames from the exhaust and watch the glow of the boom lights� (red and green� used to tell us when to jump) through the open doors ;� sort of erie but made the jumps more exciting.
(6)� In summation , all� I can say is the C119 was the Caddie of the fifties , not only for its pair of fins but also for it smooooth power glide ride!!
