First British Military Parachute Jump

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   I have read that the first British military parachute jump was made at Ordfordness in 1916/7 in a BE2c type by Cllive F Collett.  Can anyone confirm this is correct or add any further detail?

john-G

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John-G Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: Hinckley Status: Offline Points: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote John-G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: First British Military Parachute Jump Posted: 30 May 2012 at 08:02
	I have read that the first British military parachute jump was made at Ordfordness in 1916/7 in a BE2c type by Cllive F Collett. Can anyone confirm this is correct or add any further detail? john-G
	www.66squadron.co.uk

NickForder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Status: Offline Points: 752	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickForder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 08:16
	Just to clarify, is this a claim for the first parachute jump by a serving member of the British military as part of an official trial from a service aeroplane ?

John-G Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: Hinckley Status: Offline Points: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote John-G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 08:29
	Hi Nick, Yes I belive so. As I understand it, Collett who was serving at the time made the jump. His Air 76 puts him at Orfordness between June - to the middle of November 1916, when he went to France and joined 18 Squadron, by the middle of April 1917 he was home with 59 RS. I understand the the claim for the first desent/jump was made in early 1917? john-G
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NickForder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Status: Offline Points: 752	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickForder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 08:32
	I was asking because parachuting from balloons was a 19th century innovation and there were some trials at Hendon (Professor Newall ?) jumping off the skid of a Farman (or similar) before this...

Paul R Hare Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 175	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul R Hare Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 09:45
	I can confirm that official trials were made of the "guardian angel" parachute early in 1917, but don't know the pilots name. And Nick is right that parachute jumping, especially from balloons and airships, was already fairy well known, both here and in the USA. I believe that Frank Goodden was an exhibition jumper, before he was a test pilot.
	Paul

WrightBrother Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Witney Status: Offline Points: 53	Post Options Post Reply Quote WrightBrother Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 15:38
	Paul and all, Frank Goodden certainly parachuted from the balloon 'Echantress' at Port Meadow, Oxford, on 17 April 1911. My booklet 'The Royal Flying Corps in Oxfordshire - 1912/1918' tells it all and copies cheaply available from me at wright.brother@tesco.net Peter Wright.

Errol Martyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 99	Post Options Post Reply Quote Errol Martyn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2012 at 22:44
	Clive Collett was posted to the Experimental Armament Sqn at Orfordness as Flt Cdr 'A' Flt on 1 Aug 16. He made the 1st parachute descent from a British military aeroplane on 13 Jan 17, and made a 2nd descent on the 21st. Collett was accidentally killed over the Fith of Forth on 23 December 1917 while flying captured Albatros DV G.56 . Errol

John-G Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: Hinckley Status: Offline Points: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote John-G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 08:21
	Hi Errol, Thanks for the information. One of the problems with AIR76 is that it was all written up in a hurry when the RAF was formed and a lot of mistakes followed. I am not doubting your word, but do you have a reference for this information. john-G
	www.66squadron.co.uk

Errol Martyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 99	Post Options Post Reply Quote Errol Martyn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 23:08
	John, Casualty card held by RAF Museum. Errol

John-G Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Location: Hinckley Status: Offline Points: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote John-G Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jun 2012 at 06:22
	Hi Errol Thanks very much for the information. Cheers John
	www.66squadron.co.uk

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First British Military Parachute Jump