[Milsurplus] HF radio ops by paratroopers under canopy?

[boeing377 at aol.com]

I (Mark AF6IM) and Michael (KF6WRW) have been making HAHO (high altitude high opening) jumps recently over Byron CA from 14,000 ft using VHF and UHF ham HTs. We are planning to operate HF HAHO from a higher altitude in October, somewhere between 18,000 and 24,000 ft depending on FAA clearances and traffic. These lower altiude jumps are practice jumps to work out the gear kinks with mics, noise, radio mounting etc. We will be using oxygen gear for the October jumps.



We are trying to study the history of radio comms under parachute, especially HF. I have heard (but have no solid info) that WW 2 paratroopers operated BC 611s under canopy. Does anyone on this list know aything about this subject?



I am a long time surplus radio?fan and have a PRC 74A. Anything else I have would take a cargo chute.?I would consider using it on a HAHO jump in October (perhaps earlier) if I could get some folks to work up a schedule for wrong sideband (USB) contacts on 80M. DX would be a gamble but if some SF Bay Area "green radio" hams wanted to try line of sight comms it should be?doable from our altitudes.



We will be making 14,000 ft radio HAHO jumps this Sunday Aug 23. I plan to operate on 1280.225 FM W6RLW repeater and on a subsequent jump, K6MDD DSTAR repeater 146.580 Michael will operate on the N6NFI repeater 145.230 FM. 



Monitor 145.230 for pre jump announcements.?Jumps will be made most likely between 1 PM and 6 PM.



Mil radio parachute mobile anyone?



73,

Mark

AF6IM