Posted on Aug 13, 2020
Which individual holds the world record number of combat parachute jumps?
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I've seen an individual with two mustard stains, and I understand there are units with four or five. But I'm wondering about which individual has jumped into combat more times than anyone else. I've heard combat jumps were pretty common in Rhodesia.
Parachuting
Combat
Airborne School
Posted >1 y ago
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I know my great uncle, James Van de Bogert, made 4 combat jumps with H-company, 505th PIR in WWII.
If interested, a distant cousin of mine from Europe has been collecting and posting paratrooper info from that era for many years on the following website. Pretty interesting stuff.
https://www.pararesearchteam.com/
Not to hijack this thread but I'll add this as a funny story, as told often by my uncle to us, about that eras paratroopers and his first training jump. Very few before the war likley had the opportunity to fly in a plane and because of that it was likley that the first time would be to jump out of one. In my uncle's case they boarded and when at alltitude went through the motions for their first jump. When the jump master says go, you go out the door as trained no questions asked. The trooper in front of him got to the door and refused to jump while the jump master yelled at him. The jump master grabbed him and pushed him out the door but he turned and grabbed the doorway. So, hanging out, but hanging on for dear life the jump master kicked his hands, breaking some fingers, and off he went into the blue. The jump master looked at my uncle, yelled go, and my uncle closed his eyes and stepped out of the airplane...no questions asked.
Now, whether this actually happened as he told it was often questioned but always defended and was an entertaining story none the less. It was also one of the only stories he would tell about his time in the Army. There was extra pay in it for those that volunteered to jump so I'm sure that gentlemen washed out and missed out on some money.
After the war he and my great aunt had 14 kids. When asked why so many my aunt would reply that while at war he really missed her and needed to catch up when he got home. To say I have a large extended family is an understatement.
V/R
Bogie
If interested, a distant cousin of mine from Europe has been collecting and posting paratrooper info from that era for many years on the following website. Pretty interesting stuff.
https://www.pararesearchteam.com/
Not to hijack this thread but I'll add this as a funny story, as told often by my uncle to us, about that eras paratroopers and his first training jump. Very few before the war likley had the opportunity to fly in a plane and because of that it was likley that the first time would be to jump out of one. In my uncle's case they boarded and when at alltitude went through the motions for their first jump. When the jump master says go, you go out the door as trained no questions asked. The trooper in front of him got to the door and refused to jump while the jump master yelled at him. The jump master grabbed him and pushed him out the door but he turned and grabbed the doorway. So, hanging out, but hanging on for dear life the jump master kicked his hands, breaking some fingers, and off he went into the blue. The jump master looked at my uncle, yelled go, and my uncle closed his eyes and stepped out of the airplane...no questions asked.
Now, whether this actually happened as he told it was often questioned but always defended and was an entertaining story none the less. It was also one of the only stories he would tell about his time in the Army. There was extra pay in it for those that volunteered to jump so I'm sure that gentlemen washed out and missed out on some money.
After the war he and my great aunt had 14 kids. When asked why so many my aunt would reply that while at war he really missed her and needed to catch up when he got home. To say I have a large extended family is an understatement.
V/R
Bogie
Paratrooper Research Team - History Awaits
Free Online WWII Scrapbook by Donald & Sophia van den Bogert
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I honestly don't know but I got to meet Rock Merritt. He has two combat jumps in WWII.
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MAJ Stephen Zglinicki
My wings were personally pined on by William N. “Red” King at “DZ Fryar” 1985...and are still on my Army Greens!
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MAJ Stephen Zglinicki
I also remember feverishly...that after he pined them on, he looked me straight in the eye and said "take care of our troops!"
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LTG James “Jumping Jim” Gavin made 4 combat jumps. I haven’t seen more than that in my research.
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