The U.S. marine of to-day has to be a versatile soldier. Besides learning to be a Commando and leaving his ship per medium of small boat to make landings on enemy territory, he is now learning the art off parachute Jumping. At a marine base on the western United States coast airborne marines practise jumping from a 250 ft tower. The 'chutes slide down wires as fast as they would from an aeroplane. Top left: At the top of the tower the student hangs suspended awaiting the order to pull the rip cord for the downward plunge. Right: Having pulled the cord, he zooms down in a free fall of 15 feet before the 'chute opens. This is to familiarise him with the opening shock in real jumping. Below left: At 15 feet the 'chute opens and the trip to the ground is exactly the same as the real thing without the drift. Right: What the 250 ft tower looks like to the man on the ground. )

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 3

The U.S. marine of to-day has to be a versatile soldier. Besides learning to be a Commando and leaving his ship per medium of small boat to make landings on enemy territory, he is now learning the art off parachute Jumping. At a marine base on the western United States coast airborne marines practise jumping from a 250 ft tower. The 'chutes slide down wires as fast as they would from an aeroplane. Top left: At the top of the tower the student hangs suspended awaiting the order to pull the rip cord for the downward plunge. Right: Having pulled the cord, he zooms down in a free fall of 15 feet before the 'chute opens. This is to familiarise him with the opening shock in real jumping. Below left: At 15 feet the 'chute opens and the trip to the ground is exactly the same as the real thing without the drift. Right: What the 250 ft tower looks like to the man on the ground. )