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after into a bus and off to a balloon site. I was surprised at how cool I felt and was already confident that my valuable training was not going to desert me. I fitted my parachute on and was inspected. The instructors gave us a demonstration drop. On seeing this I was happy. I knew I could not fail myself. Now I just thought over all I had been told and was confident of fuyjing it over.
Before very long I was clambering into a basket under yje ballon. I was number one, sitting on the hole, the winch motor started, we were going. Four of us and our instructor. I did not feel brave and was far from being frightened. Just mindful of my Job and very determined. I was on a dwdw given to us not to look to earth. I kept my head up.
I did not realise it and was soon at 600 ft. My instructor then shouts "Action Stations number one". Through good training I did not realise the fact but was as if I was a few feet off the ground. There was not a single hint of fear. I quickly took up my position ready for the word "Go!". The instructor held his hand up, I had my eyes glued on it. He would just flick it and shout "go".
Well, he saw I was ready, I had my head up and a good sitting position on the very edge of the aperture. Just a little lunge and I should be off. Then a loud "GO!" sounded I was falling into space and a lovely thrill shivering through my body, my eyes shut, rushing down I kept upright, hung on to a good position, then a gentle tug and I was slowly floating down. Instead of 70 mph now it was just 14 mph. My parachute was open after about 120 feet. I grasped my lift webs, looked to earth, it was calmly coming towards me, I heard a voice through a megaphone shout "good position number one, now turn about".
I crossed my hands on my lift webs, gave a pull and turned about. My eyes on the ground near down. Now the last 50 feet, the earth rushed up to me, my feet touched, then I rolled down the side of my leg past the knee down the thigh on to my back. Up on my feet, rolled my parachute and that was my first jump over. It was done in no time. All very simple, I had another jump after so that is it!
Two of the seven jumps gone, I feel pleased with myself now, but I shall not allow myself to get a swelled head or over-confident as these jumps have to be done under perfect conditions. The next may be in rough weather and not so sweet. Then I must not allow myself to get careless and just think there is nothing to it.
As long as I do just as I'm told all is OK. I'm very satisfied so far. Well I've had breakfast now and a break, At 10am on parade again for a discussion and a trip in an aeroplane, as you know it will be my first. I will get ready for parade now and start writing after my air trip. ....
Well by now I had my joy ride, we where not in the air more than ten minutes. One of the engines got a bit nasty, so we had our ride cut short. I suppose it was the best thing in case of a crash, 25 of us and no parachute then. Well, being in an aeroplane isn't much, we didn't get very high. I felt comfortable but maybe I should not have done so if I had known the one engine had conked. Thank heaven they will go on one.
Well, tomorrow we have a jump from a Whitley bomber. So that will be another stage in parachuting. Well I must close now. It is about three o'clock in the afternoon now. I think I will try and have a nap to make up for the early rise this morning.
Best of love
Charlie.
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