Parachutes

[Gurgast]

I guess we all know about Ernst Udet's parachute jump and the fact that the Germans had them in 1918, and that the RFC were supposed to have been denied them because their superiors were convinced pilots would all leap overboard at the first sign of trouble (yawn), and that balloon observers had them ... but ... were parachutes ever used in WW1 to insert spies and saboteurs behind enemy lines? I suppose it could have been a big secret if they ever did, and one has to wonder if specially-adapted two-seaters (perhaps with trap-doors!) would have been required to permit the exitee to clear the rear control surfaces with his bulky equipment.

I wonder too if there was ever a special RFC squadron set aside to test various weird and wonderful proposals.

[Maxim08]

Can't comment on parachute insertions, but there are many records of pilots flying, landing and unloading passengers behind enemy lines. One of the better known pilots was Wm. Barker, VC.
Regards,
John

[Gurgast]

True. But it's the parachute drop I'm curious about. I just wondered how long it was in this particular instance between requirement and technology meeting, because they had certainly met up by WW2. Maybe the fantastically dangerous night landing and take-off in enemy territory was still considered at this time less hazardous than a parachute drop -- although to modern minds it might seem a bizarre way of thinking. If so, it might also cast a glimmer of light on the "brass" mind-set re pilot 'chutes.

[expositor]

if i remember correctly, then col.billy mitchell had been working on a plan to use the raf's large aircraft to airdrop a large number of troops behind the german lines if the war had dragged on till the next spring/summer. though he was very wrong about the efficacy of naval aviation and aircraft carriers, he was
pretty much right, in essence if not in degree, about everything else he believed about future air combat....

[Albatros_Ace]

Originally Posted by Maxim08

Can't comment on parachute insertions, but there are many records of pilots flying, landing and unloading passengers behind enemy lines. One of the better known pilots was Wm. Barker, VC.
Regards,
John

Maxim,

Didn't he actually parachute drop somebody not just land and unload?

I'm off to bed but if no one has check by tomorrow morning I will look

-Chris

[Doc]

Not quite relevant to the specific question, but there was at least one instance in which an allied spy was inserted behind enemy lines by gas-filled balloon. RAF squadrons were very much involved in the supply and planning for the mission. See: Janet Morgan, "The Secrets of Rue St. Roch", Penguin Books 2005.

This book also discusses in moderate detail the use of aircraft to drop parachutists for insertion behind the lines, and implies that it was relatively commonplace, though highly dangerous both for the parachutist and the aircrew. At one time, it discusses a "biplane with a parachutist's sidecar", which was apparently some kind of an aluminum container fixed between the landing gear. The parachutist was inside, and when over the drop zone, the pilot opened the floor of the container without warning, and the parachutist was gone. (I would assume that if specific equipment like this was produced for the mission, it was a fairly common mission). Trenchard reportedly noted in early 1917 that the use of airplanes to drop spies had become too dangerous (too many aircraft were being lost).

So, this is a great area for more research, but it appears that the response to the initial question is, "yes, aircraft-dropped spies were used in WWI." Doc

[Gurgast]

Cheers, Doc. Great contribution. You just added to my monthly book bill.

[Angiolillo]

Not an expert, but I knew in Italy it happened.

Here
Tandura: 3 mesi di spionaggio oltre il Piave
the story of two Bersaglieri (Italian elite ground troops) with peasants' robes landed with a Voisin behind Austrian lines the 29th/30th of May 1918 with several cages of pigeons (to carry reports back).

The 29th of July, two more were brought by a seaplane to the Caorle swamps.

British brought 4 Calthrop parachutes to Italians in 1917, the first Italian one being developed in 1918 by Umberto Nobile (later famous for going over the North pole on a dirigible - and for a famous accident).

The first parachuting of an Italian spy behind enemy lines was the 9th of August 1918. Pilot William Barker flew a Savoia Pomilio SP2 with a tilting seat on the rear. Tenente Antonio Tandura (later Golden Medal for that 3 months long mission) flew with the back to the pilot and observer, who had the lever to drop him, and feet dangling above nothing. Barker threw him and then went on to bomb some targets so to conceal to Austrains the real target of his mission.

The 23rd of October Tenente Ferruccio Nicoloso was launched but landed out of zone; the 24th, Tenente Pier Arrigo Barnaba landed correctly and accomplished the mission.

The 4th of November war ended on the Italian front.

I don't have my books here, all comes from the page linke dabove.

All the best,

Andrea

[Doc]

Gurgast, good morning. Glad to help. I must point out, though, that this topic is not the major interest or portion of the book, which concentrates on the formation and operations of British espionage systems in Luxembourg (and covers organisational inefficiency, personal rivalries, and lack of coordination of British espionage operations in great detail). It does discuss in detail the preparation for the balloon insertion, which is fascinating, but the discussion of the aircraft and parachutes is primarily in the context of why they chose to use the balloon insertion method. Good background and a possible guide for future research, but I suspect you will not find it contains great historical detail on the subject you are interested in. That said, it's still a fascinating read, and well worth the minor price. I got it for £ 5 a month or so ago in Haye-on-Wye, so you ought to be able find it cheaply on line. Have fun! Doc

[Gurgast]

Too late, my medical friend! The deed is already done. Ebay is just so tempting ...

I'm sure I'll read it with keenness. Just about anything connected with WW1 is of intertest to me, and the air war in particular. I may be new(ish) here, but I first got into flying gear in the 60's. (Anyone remember chipmunks and meteors?)