is now ready for your viewing and reading pleasure:
https://www.ttbrown.com/defying_gravity/54_ParaMud.html
I had thought at one point that I would be able to post this chapter AND the one that follows today, but that is not turning out to be the case.
Chapter 55, tentatively titled "Situation Normal..." needs some more background research and re-writing, so it's gonna take a few more days. Unfortunately, this is a short week for me as I'm going out of town over the weekend, but I should be ready with the next installment next week in any event.
--PS
Chapter 54: Parachutes and Mud
Chapter 54: Parachutes and Mud
Last edited by Paul S. on Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Paul Schatzkin
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
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Victoria Steele
- Mysterious Redhead
- Posts: 930
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:06 am
no words
Oh Paul! There are no words I could say which would match what you have written! It takes my breath. This story is just EXPLODING with emotion and the history of the time. Its just so ..... immediate ...... no words to match! Always worth the wait!
And Mr. Twigsnapper. Your descriptions are wonderful! Victoria
And Mr. Twigsnapper. Your descriptions are wonderful! Victoria
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flowperson
- Senior Officer
- Posts: 688
- Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:16 pm
- Location: SW United States
Paul...Wonderfully written...edge of the seat stuff.
Twigsnapper...Sir, you have my utmost admiration and respect.
Been wondering whether your story will cross paths with Gen. Gehlen, head of German Intelligence at that time, who was brought into the employ of Washington after the war. Many have wondered what he was up to during that period...or would that be another book ?
flow....
Twigsnapper...Sir, you have my utmost admiration and respect.
Been wondering whether your story will cross paths with Gen. Gehlen, head of German Intelligence at that time, who was brought into the employ of Washington after the war. Many have wondered what he was up to during that period...or would that be another book ?
flow....
Dancing is better than marching
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LongboardLOVELY
- Junior Birdman
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:32 am
- Location: Southern California
Escorting Townsend Brown
....
But that was only part of the assignment. In the event they were captured by hostile forces, O’Riley’s duty was not necessarily to engage the enemy. His duty was to make certain that the man he was escorting did not fall into enemy hands… alive.
!!!
So, Mr. Twigsnapper, you were also assigned to execute Brown if he were to fall into enemy hands... alive??
Hard position to be in.
I can understand how one such as yourself must have liked to blow up things. I liked to blow up things too (but on a much smaller scale.)
Nicely done chapter, Paul
That last photograph with Robert Sullivan and the unidentified operative - was the unidentified operative really really short or was Sullivan standing on a box? There's a real height difference there !!
LongboardLOVELY
But that was only part of the assignment. In the event they were captured by hostile forces, O’Riley’s duty was not necessarily to engage the enemy. His duty was to make certain that the man he was escorting did not fall into enemy hands… alive.
!!!
So, Mr. Twigsnapper, you were also assigned to execute Brown if he were to fall into enemy hands... alive??
Hard position to be in.
I can understand how one such as yourself must have liked to blow up things. I liked to blow up things too (but on a much smaller scale.)
Nicely done chapter, Paul
That last photograph with Robert Sullivan and the unidentified operative - was the unidentified operative really really short or was Sullivan standing on a box? There's a real height difference there !!
LongboardLOVELY
Re: Escorting Townsend Brown
Actually, I believe the unidentified operative was seated.LongboardLOVELY wrote:That last photograph with Robert Sullivan and the unidentified operative - was the unidentified operative really really short or was Sullivan standing on a box?
Glad you all liked the chapter, thanks for the kind words.
Onward. No rest for the weary.
--PS
Paul Schatzkin
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
Muc?
(Re: Muc? ...Just pulling your leg about the thread title, Paul...)
Moving, upsetting, and fascinating chapter, well done. Some thoughts and questions below.
In the first long excerpt from Morgan, there is a sentence that begins "By the middle of February (1945)..." you continue "...that the Canadian system was still operational." This to me is confusing--is that a physical cryptography device/system to which you refer, or an extensive intelligence network made up of people...? I took it to mean the former, that they actually held back one Russian device? Is that correct?
That Halifax bomber, NA337, do you happen to know how and when it wound up in the drink in the waters of Norway's Lake Mjosa?
Since Mr. twigsnapper can't tell us where he was heading with Brown in Germany, perhaps we can ask kevin b. if he has ever tried his hand at dowsing maps?
When you mention the story about the drumhead courts-martial, you said that "three units of military police" showed up in addition to the kangaroo court judge. How many additional people is that? I thought it important to clarify in the story, since seven people arriving might send one sort of chill into O'Riley and his partner, but twenty or more arriving in four or more cars might send an entirely more intense chill...
"...and that's what Dr. Brown was heading for -- but fate intervened..." I dearly hope we find out in the next chapter what happens; please be kind to us and don't wait to long to finish that thought!
Later, O'Riley says "From my work at the Admiralty I figured we were after some kind of new submarine propulsion system. But Dr. Brown didn't volunteer information and I didn't ask him." I'm curious Mr. twigsnapper if you could expand on any aspect of how you intuited this? Did Brown mention anything about his previous experience on subs, that might have led you to this conclusion?
The girl in the pink dress...as the parent of a three year old girl, this story has had a very powerful impact on me since I first read it here on the board. And it has been echoing and resonating in me since. Reading it here again in the chapter, I only miss Mr. twigsnapper's subsequent comments (in his post here on the board) about finding a life of meaning. Perhaps that will come in a later chapter.
Yes, when and if each of us is fortunate or unfortunate enough to come up against unvarnished, unmediated REALITY right in our faces, we have a choice--and how we choose to react defines who we are, our direction and the integrity of our lives. Some very fortunate may have someone right there near them to help them see their options, and to help them make that choice. Someone like Dr. Brown.
Thanks for a great chapter, Paul.
R.
Moving, upsetting, and fascinating chapter, well done. Some thoughts and questions below.
In the first long excerpt from Morgan, there is a sentence that begins "By the middle of February (1945)..." you continue "...that the Canadian system was still operational." This to me is confusing--is that a physical cryptography device/system to which you refer, or an extensive intelligence network made up of people...? I took it to mean the former, that they actually held back one Russian device? Is that correct?
That Halifax bomber, NA337, do you happen to know how and when it wound up in the drink in the waters of Norway's Lake Mjosa?
Since Mr. twigsnapper can't tell us where he was heading with Brown in Germany, perhaps we can ask kevin b. if he has ever tried his hand at dowsing maps?
When you mention the story about the drumhead courts-martial, you said that "three units of military police" showed up in addition to the kangaroo court judge. How many additional people is that? I thought it important to clarify in the story, since seven people arriving might send one sort of chill into O'Riley and his partner, but twenty or more arriving in four or more cars might send an entirely more intense chill...
"...and that's what Dr. Brown was heading for -- but fate intervened..." I dearly hope we find out in the next chapter what happens; please be kind to us and don't wait to long to finish that thought!
Later, O'Riley says "From my work at the Admiralty I figured we were after some kind of new submarine propulsion system. But Dr. Brown didn't volunteer information and I didn't ask him." I'm curious Mr. twigsnapper if you could expand on any aspect of how you intuited this? Did Brown mention anything about his previous experience on subs, that might have led you to this conclusion?
The girl in the pink dress...as the parent of a three year old girl, this story has had a very powerful impact on me since I first read it here on the board. And it has been echoing and resonating in me since. Reading it here again in the chapter, I only miss Mr. twigsnapper's subsequent comments (in his post here on the board) about finding a life of meaning. Perhaps that will come in a later chapter.
Yes, when and if each of us is fortunate or unfortunate enough to come up against unvarnished, unmediated REALITY right in our faces, we have a choice--and how we choose to react defines who we are, our direction and the integrity of our lives. Some very fortunate may have someone right there near them to help them see their options, and to help them make that choice. Someone like Dr. Brown.
Thanks for a great chapter, Paul.
R.
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twigsnapper
- Revered Elder
- Posts: 839
- Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:25 pm
- Location: mobile
answers from my side
Of course Pauls answers might vary quite a bit. Here are some quick responses from my end of things.
Three units translates, three truckloads of military police. Alot of boots on the ground. A distinct pucker party.
The "Unit" mentioned that was "retained" by the Canadians was a physical piece of equipment. Perhaps under the agreement that I believe is being mentioned here by Morgan , that unit should have been returned to the Russians along with the others. But Sir William wasn't about to see that happen and you see, he basically played by nobodys rules but his own. For him it was distinctly " Finders , Keepers" and he wasn't giving anything back! He KNEW that Washington was making a mistake and would eventually regret it sorely. He kept what he needed to keep for future operations. While everyone was calling Stalin an "upright fellow" Stephenson knew the personality that actually existed and the danger that it would become in the future.
As for my comment about submarine propulsion systems. In my earlier days I had been involved with the Admiralty with a sort of submarine <g> and I supposed (before I knew better) that I had been chosen because of that background. As I said though, Dr. Brown never actually broached the subject. At least not at that particular time in our lives.
I have appreciated your response. Especially in honor of the little girl in the mud. I discovered in the years that followed that I began to consider myself her own personal knight. Now I know that is a bit fanciful but thats the image that I had many times. I have thought of her many times and truthfully, still do.
And Trickfox.
I could not have given you a better piece of advice than the last paragraph that Radomir has written. You HAVE had someone very much like Dr. Brown reach out and touch you. Now........ what will you do? twigsnapper
Three units translates, three truckloads of military police. Alot of boots on the ground. A distinct pucker party.
The "Unit" mentioned that was "retained" by the Canadians was a physical piece of equipment. Perhaps under the agreement that I believe is being mentioned here by Morgan , that unit should have been returned to the Russians along with the others. But Sir William wasn't about to see that happen and you see, he basically played by nobodys rules but his own. For him it was distinctly " Finders , Keepers" and he wasn't giving anything back! He KNEW that Washington was making a mistake and would eventually regret it sorely. He kept what he needed to keep for future operations. While everyone was calling Stalin an "upright fellow" Stephenson knew the personality that actually existed and the danger that it would become in the future.
As for my comment about submarine propulsion systems. In my earlier days I had been involved with the Admiralty with a sort of submarine <g> and I supposed (before I knew better) that I had been chosen because of that background. As I said though, Dr. Brown never actually broached the subject. At least not at that particular time in our lives.
I have appreciated your response. Especially in honor of the little girl in the mud. I discovered in the years that followed that I began to consider myself her own personal knight. Now I know that is a bit fanciful but thats the image that I had many times. I have thought of her many times and truthfully, still do.
And Trickfox.
I could not have given you a better piece of advice than the last paragraph that Radomir has written. You HAVE had someone very much like Dr. Brown reach out and touch you. Now........ what will you do? twigsnapper
thanks
Thanks Mr. twigsnapper for your very thorough and thoughtful response.
Three truckloads of soldiers, no wonder those German soldiers didn't put up any resistance to the kangaroo court proceedings. And no wonder you and your partner were shaken by their arrival.
I had meant to mention one other thing, which was Dr. Brown's laughter after landing. This one made me smile. Years ago, on my one tandem parachute jump, that was precisely my reaction upon landing--giddy laughter after a 30 second drop and then chute-shock, then guiding it to landing. So many intense sensations in quick succession. I think our organism knows we're not supposed to be dropping through the air at freefall speeds, and once it realizes it has solid ground under the feet again, there's nothing to do but celebrate that survival.
I can't imagine jumping out at 600 feet--I assume that was a static line drop where the chute opens almost the second after the person leaps out the Joe hole? Or did TTB have to have the presence of mind to manually pull the ripcord once out the hatch and clear?
R.
Three truckloads of soldiers, no wonder those German soldiers didn't put up any resistance to the kangaroo court proceedings. And no wonder you and your partner were shaken by their arrival.
I had meant to mention one other thing, which was Dr. Brown's laughter after landing. This one made me smile. Years ago, on my one tandem parachute jump, that was precisely my reaction upon landing--giddy laughter after a 30 second drop and then chute-shock, then guiding it to landing. So many intense sensations in quick succession. I think our organism knows we're not supposed to be dropping through the air at freefall speeds, and once it realizes it has solid ground under the feet again, there's nothing to do but celebrate that survival.
I can't imagine jumping out at 600 feet--I assume that was a static line drop where the chute opens almost the second after the person leaps out the Joe hole? Or did TTB have to have the presence of mind to manually pull the ripcord once out the hatch and clear?
R.
It had to have been static line. Even today for static-line we usually jump at 1500 feet in training, and not terribly much lower than that in combat ops. That would have been completely nuts sending somebody with so little training (in that vein) for free-fall at 600 feet.
Airborne!
Airborne!
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research!" -Einstein
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greggvizza
- Senior Cadet
- Posts: 483
- Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 3:01 pm
I agree with Radomir. I had the same sort of surprise giggle with parachuting.I had meant to mention one other thing, which was Dr. Brown's laughter after landing. This one made me smile. Years ago, on my one tandem parachute jump, that was precisely my reaction upon landing--giddy laughter after a 30 second drop and then chute-shock, then guiding it to landing. So many intense sensations in quick succession. I think our organism knows we're not supposed to be dropping through the air at freefall speeds, and once it realizes it has solid ground under the feet again, there's nothing to do but celebrate that survival.
I had previously flown over 15 different types of aircraft, 3 of which were aerobatic planes in which I was subject to every imaginable attitude in spins, loops, snap-rolls, etc; all without even a single tinge of fear. So I decided one day that what I was missing in life was a parachute jump. I went to the Greene County Sport Parachute center in Xenia OH, a hick sort of place, where they let you do it all in one day. Like Anakin Skywalker- Who needs training? let’s get on with it. They train you in the morning and you jump in the afternoon. I was totally enthusiastic, excited and pumped the entire morning. In the afternoon when we all finally piled in the plane and were aloft, the adrenalin really started to flow. I couldn’t wait for the big moment. There were two guys ahead of me; one by one they left the plane and then it was my turn, I was thrilled. Then suddenly, while staring straight down at the ground (without prior announcement) another me, that I had been unaware of till this moment, took over and caused me to grip the wing strut with all my might and not let go. The jump master was yelling GO… NOW… GO. But nothing happened. I was still there hanging on to the strut. Where did that come from? After about 60 second of excruciating mental torment, I finally gained control, defeated the “other meâ€
Last edited by greggvizza on Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
paralysis
Who knew we had so many folks with this experience in common?
The difference in our experience was that I was strapped to a former US Army Golden Knight named Rusty Vest (not kidding, that was his name), who politely pried my fingers off, and out the hatch we went. And we did hit the drop zone ok, a little airfield in South Carolina, a testament to his over 8,000 jumps, in spite of my delay at the doorway.
We did some very brief freefall maneuvers, with him yelling instructions in my ear, then I did at least get the rip cord pulled at the right moment, and properly stowed.
We dropped right at sunset, so once the chute was open we gently turned left a full revolution, then right a full revolution (he was showing me how to use the straps to turn) I saw the sun go from setting, to half-way, to fully set in less than a minute. Beautiful, red/amber light over everything.
The other thing I remember finding so fantastic was how much you could hear of the idle chatting and airfield ground noise--you're under a giant parabolic shape and it just caught and redirected all the little sounds right into your ears.
R.
Yeah, I had that moment too. Didn't regret it once we reached terminal velocity, but for those few moments of animal hind-brain panic, I just couldn't release my grip on the bulkhead doorway. My big mistake was also looking down. <g> The airstrip from which we had taken off looked about the size of your index finger, a LONG way down...Then suddenly, while staring straight down at the ground (without prior announcement) another me that I had been unaware of till this moment took over and caused me to grip the wing strut with all my might and not let go.
The difference in our experience was that I was strapped to a former US Army Golden Knight named Rusty Vest (not kidding, that was his name), who politely pried my fingers off, and out the hatch we went. And we did hit the drop zone ok, a little airfield in South Carolina, a testament to his over 8,000 jumps, in spite of my delay at the doorway.
We did some very brief freefall maneuvers, with him yelling instructions in my ear, then I did at least get the rip cord pulled at the right moment, and properly stowed.
We dropped right at sunset, so once the chute was open we gently turned left a full revolution, then right a full revolution (he was showing me how to use the straps to turn) I saw the sun go from setting, to half-way, to fully set in less than a minute. Beautiful, red/amber light over everything.
The other thing I remember finding so fantastic was how much you could hear of the idle chatting and airfield ground noise--you're under a giant parabolic shape and it just caught and redirected all the little sounds right into your ears.
R.
Last edited by Radomir on Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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twigsnapper
- Revered Elder
- Posts: 839
- Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:25 pm
- Location: mobile
noticed that too
Actually hadn't thought about that but I have noticed that too. Drifting silently at night I used to hope that I would hear cows mooing somewhere and not truck engines, or worse the peculiar pinging and clanking noise that tanks made.)
There was a unit that operated to the West of us during this particular time. They were basically English and Canadian paratroopers. Distaining helmets once they landed and got squared away they wore red berets. They were fierce fighters and counted on scaring the daylights out of their enemies. Course they arrived en masse. Tickled me when I heard that most of their leaders took to carrying hunt horns with them and they communicated basic directions .... cast right, cast left ...... all that good stuff with those horns. Which of course they hoped the Germans didn't understand. No stealth on their part! They were basically PBIs ( Poor Bloody Infantry <g>. They are still known now as Paras. Parachute Brigades ................ Airborne Divisions of course.
You would think that things wold get lighter and easier to jump with but a fully out fitted PARA looks today like he is taking the kitchen sink too. twigsnapper
There was a unit that operated to the West of us during this particular time. They were basically English and Canadian paratroopers. Distaining helmets once they landed and got squared away they wore red berets. They were fierce fighters and counted on scaring the daylights out of their enemies. Course they arrived en masse. Tickled me when I heard that most of their leaders took to carrying hunt horns with them and they communicated basic directions .... cast right, cast left ...... all that good stuff with those horns. Which of course they hoped the Germans didn't understand. No stealth on their part! They were basically PBIs ( Poor Bloody Infantry <g>. They are still known now as Paras. Parachute Brigades ................ Airborne Divisions of course.
You would think that things wold get lighter and easier to jump with but a fully out fitted PARA looks today like he is taking the kitchen sink too. twigsnapper
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Elizabeth Helen Drake
- Sr. Research Asst.
- Posts: 1742
- Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:11 am
way too brave for me!
All of you (including Dr. Brown ) are way to brave for me. I go by that tired old joke, " what me? Jump out of a PERFECTLY GOOD airplane? Not on your everloving life!"
I just can not feature our Dr. Brown doing that, with no real training, into the dark! ( Would that help, I wonder? Not being able to see the ground below? No ... that doesn't help, I am sure he could still see enough to judge distance. Could I do it. I don't know. Never been placed in that situation. Don't plan to be either).
Whatever Dr, Brown was after down there HAD to be something really important. REALLY IMPORTANT. I don't think that he was the kind of person who was a thrill seeker in that direction.
I have wondered, since the Halifax bomber that he jumped from seems to be in a museum in Canada, I wondered if some sort of remote viewer could tell us what Dr. Browns actual flight was like. Did he fearlessly leap into the darkness or did some jumpmaster "bump him out" at just the right time. It wouldn't matter to me. The guy was amazing to actually even be there. Remember he wasn't even in an armed service at the time. What the HECK is he doing there whern he could have been home with Josephine? So interesting! Elizabeth
I just can not feature our Dr. Brown doing that, with no real training, into the dark! ( Would that help, I wonder? Not being able to see the ground below? No ... that doesn't help, I am sure he could still see enough to judge distance. Could I do it. I don't know. Never been placed in that situation. Don't plan to be either).
Whatever Dr, Brown was after down there HAD to be something really important. REALLY IMPORTANT. I don't think that he was the kind of person who was a thrill seeker in that direction.
I have wondered, since the Halifax bomber that he jumped from seems to be in a museum in Canada, I wondered if some sort of remote viewer could tell us what Dr. Browns actual flight was like. Did he fearlessly leap into the darkness or did some jumpmaster "bump him out" at just the right time. It wouldn't matter to me. The guy was amazing to actually even be there. Remember he wasn't even in an armed service at the time. What the HECK is he doing there whern he could have been home with Josephine? So interesting! Elizabeth
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Mark Culpepper
- The Dean
- Posts: 655
- Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:02 am
You are surprised?
Elizabeth,
You act really surprised that Dr. Brown jumped out of that plane. Is that information really that new to you? I am a little confused because Paul seemed to know about the experience in Germany from awhile ago. In fact he mentioned it in a question on one of his first pages " What was Dr. Brown doing in Germany?" or something phrased like that and thats one of the first things that caught my attention. But if you are actually surprised at this then I have to really hand it to Mr. Twigsnapper for keeping this so close to his chest and to Paul also.
Are you really all that surprised or is it just that its hard for you to imagine him doing that? I think maybe he would have pretty much enjoyed the experience. Remember he rode motorcyles as a young man. With those and with jumping out of that " perfectly good airplane" You just have to trust your fate I guess.
The fact that he laughed after the experience just serves to make the whole account even more believeable for me. No one who HADN'T done that would have know about that sort of response. I'd be kissing the ground. Mark C.
You act really surprised that Dr. Brown jumped out of that plane. Is that information really that new to you? I am a little confused because Paul seemed to know about the experience in Germany from awhile ago. In fact he mentioned it in a question on one of his first pages " What was Dr. Brown doing in Germany?" or something phrased like that and thats one of the first things that caught my attention. But if you are actually surprised at this then I have to really hand it to Mr. Twigsnapper for keeping this so close to his chest and to Paul also.
Are you really all that surprised or is it just that its hard for you to imagine him doing that? I think maybe he would have pretty much enjoyed the experience. Remember he rode motorcyles as a young man. With those and with jumping out of that " perfectly good airplane" You just have to trust your fate I guess.
The fact that he laughed after the experience just serves to make the whole account even more believeable for me. No one who HADN'T done that would have know about that sort of response. I'd be kissing the ground. Mark C.