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'Pip' Tyler remembers recruits were told a descent from a static balloon at 800ft would take just 28 seconds. A parachute descent from an aircraft would take rather longer, as the aircraft slipstream slowed the initial descent: 

'One drops vertically for a hundred feet until the chute opens with a loud bang, and prayed the paratroops prayer on the way down. “God bless the WAAF  who packed it [the parachute].”’ 

See Also:
Parachute Balloon Training Company

Photos

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Shot from a raised balloon cage for training jumps. A parachute stick wait on the ground.
Shot from a raised balloon cage for training jumps. A parachute stick wait on the ground.
Shot from a raised balloon cage for training jumps. A parachute stick wait on the ground.
Shot from a raised balloon cage for training jumps. A parachute stick wait on the ground.
Members of 1 Para Provost Pln RMP (V) in the balloon cage, Hankley Common, undated.
Members of 1 Para Provost Pln RMP (V) in the balloon cage, Hankley Common, undated.
Corporal Hague preparing for balloon jump at Queen's Avenue Aldershot, c.1977
Corporal Hague preparing for balloon jump at Queen's Avenue Aldershot, c.1977
Parachute Balloon, RAF Abingdon, 1960s.
Parachute Balloon, RAF Abingdon, 1960s.
Pte Mark Ross after a balloon jump Hankley Common 1977
Pte Mark Ross after a balloon jump Hankley Common 1977
View of RAF Abingdon, 1957
View of RAF Abingdon, 1957
'No 2 come forward' Balloon Cage - Hankley Common
'No 2 come forward' Balloon Cage - Hankley Common
A quiet interlude on a balloon site
A quiet interlude on a balloon site
Balloon jump descent, 1942
Balloon jump descent, 1942
Colour Sgt John Hocknull shows his son John Hocknull Jnr the training at RAF Abingdon, 1951.
Colour Sgt John Hocknull shows his son John Hocknull Jnr the training at RAF Abingdon, 1951.
Jumping display at Hankley Common Open Day, from a balloon at 800ft, 1968.
Jumping display at Hankley Common Open Day, from a balloon at 800ft, 1968.
Parachute trainees climb into a balloon cage prior to a training jump.
Parachute trainees climb into a balloon cage prior to a training jump.
Parachute trainees climb into a balloon cage prior to a training jump.
Parachute trainees climb into a balloon cage prior to a training jump.
Men on balloon continuation training prior to Normandy and Arnhem, 1944
Men on balloon continuation training prior to Normandy and Arnhem, 1944
Pte Alan Griffiths on his parachute jump training course, Oct/Nov 1966.
Pte Alan Griffiths on his parachute jump training course, Oct/Nov 1966.
Balloon with nest for parachute training jumps
Balloon with nest for parachute training jumps
Soldiers 'Yank', 'Stubbo' and 'Johnny Rob' during Balloon jump training, Germany, 1978
Soldiers 'Yank', 'Stubbo' and 'Johnny Rob' during Balloon jump training, Germany, 1978
Undertaking a parachute drop from training balloon
Undertaking a parachute drop from training balloon
Preparing for a parachute drop from a balloon
Preparing for a parachute drop from a balloon
Warren Whyatt takes his first jump from a balloon
Warren Whyatt takes his first jump from a balloon
'Go . . . ' Balloon Cage Hankley Common 1968
'Go . . . ' Balloon Cage Hankley Common 1968
L/Cpl Nick Penistan in the balloon cage, Lincoln West Common, Summer 1978
L/Cpl Nick Penistan in the balloon cage, Lincoln West Common, Summer 1978
Members of 16 Lincoln Coy prior to balloon jump, West Common Lincoln, 3 September 1977
Members of 16 Lincoln Coy prior to balloon jump, West Common Lincoln, 3 September 1977
Early morning balloon drops by 289 Para Regt RHA (TA), October 1964
Early morning balloon drops by 289 Para Regt RHA (TA), October 1964
Balloon jumps (Balloon Training Unit)
Balloon jumps (Balloon Training Unit)
Pte Crichton jumping at Altcar Ranges, near Southport, 1980s
Pte Crichton jumping at Altcar Ranges, near Southport, 1980s
Pte Hatfield being presented his wings by the Mayor of Stockton, 1976.
Pte Hatfield being presented his wings by the Mayor of Stockton, 1976.
Balloon jumps - Up 800ft, four men jumping, 1980s
Balloon jumps - Up 800ft, four men jumping, 1980s
Parachute Balloon Training Unit early 1950s
Parachute Balloon Training Unit early 1950s
Jumping from the balloon at Barry Buddon in the 1960s
Jumping from the balloon at Barry Buddon in the 1960s
Photograph taken for the Chicago Tribune, probably RAF Ringway, 22 May 1941
Photograph taken for the Chicago Tribune, probably RAF Ringway, 22 May 1941
'Draw and Fit' - Hankley Common 1968
'Draw and Fit' - Hankley Common 1968
Parachute training using a barrage balloon at Ringway. This method of training was still used into the 1990s.
Parachute training using a barrage balloon at Ringway. This method of training was still used into the 1990s.
Paratroopers over Hankley Common, date unknown.
Paratroopers over Hankley Common, date unknown.
Hankley Common Open Day, Sgt Dave Coote exits, 1968.
Hankley Common Open Day, Sgt Dave Coote exits, 1968.
Balloon training to practise exiting through the floor.
Balloon training to practise exiting through the floor.
Balloon training to practise exiting through the floor.
Balloon training to practise exiting through the floor.

Aerial photos

Balloon Drop RAF Abingdon 1970
Balloon Drop RAF Abingdon 1970
Aerial view of the Balloon Training Unit Hangar at RAF Cardington
Aerial view of the Balloon Training Unit Hangar at RAF Cardington
View of a static line exit from the Balloon
View of a static line exit from the Balloon

Group photos

Members of 23 PFA up at 800ft for Balloon Jump onto Queens Avenue, 1988.
Members of 23 PFA up at 800ft for Balloon Jump onto Queens Avenue, 1988.
Members of 1 Para Provost Platoon waiting to jump at Hankley Common, 1970s.
Members of 1 Para Provost Platoon waiting to jump at Hankley Common, 1970s.
Men of 144 PFA after a first Balloon jump
Men of 144 PFA after a first Balloon jump
Paras await their balloon jump at RAF Weston on the Green, July 1984
Paras await their balloon jump at RAF Weston on the Green, July 1984
Getting ready for balloon jump at Barry Buddon, Scotland, 1956.
Getting ready for balloon jump at Barry Buddon, Scotland, 1956.

Training instructions

Standing orders for parachute dropping from balloon. - page 1
Standing orders for parachute dropping from balloon. - page 1
Standing orders for parachute dropping from balloon. - page 2
Standing orders for parachute dropping from balloon. - page 2

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1st Parachute Battalion War Diary Appendix 3 Balloon Training Nov 1941
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