I just came across this press release. New York Air National Guard Pararescue Jumpers performed a mid ocean rescue of injured sailors on a ship at sea. All starting with a night jump into the ocean
NY Air Guard pararescue team wrapping up mid-Atlantic rescue of injured seamen - National Guard
https://apple.news/AiD1lrG21QTqkQ8Ocp1Ahtg
Yeah, they deserve a round of cool refreshing beverages when they get home.
All the Way guys!
How on earth did those pararescue jumpers not sink to the very bottom especially considering that they’ve got steel cajones?!? Man! On the one hand, you’ve got these guys who are parachuting at night into the roiling ocean. On the other hand, you’ve got me who gets ankle-deep in the warm waters of a beach while on vacation only to run back to the safety of the shore screaming “EEEEEK!” when I see a jellyfish. My hat’s off to those guys for their bravery and dedication!!!
Eric
Water jumps are tricky business. Go into the water still wearing your chute and you run the risk of entanglement in the lines & canopy and drowning. Releasing yourself from your harness and canopy to drop free from a low height to remove that risk requires visibility for the judgement needed to perform safely and correctly. At night in the dark? NVGs are not an option that I know of. A SEAL recon team that was trying to insert into Grenada at the beginning of Urgent Fury in 1983 lost several members who drowned in the same insertion method. Brave (and skilled) men indeed.
Anyone who jumps out of a perfectly operating plane for any reason whatsoever gets a tip of the hat from me. My brother was in Airborne and I always told him he was crazy. His reply was “I never said I was normal”.
Jim [cptn]
Hi;
As a person whom has had the option to successfully enter into different types of jumps .I say hats off those men . T.B.