Smokejumpers

Abstract Larry Anderson discusses his long career as a smokejumper from 1954 to 1979. He discusses the many changes in smokejumping with regards to training and gear, as well as the U.S. Forest Service in general, mostly influenced by technology. Anderson describes the daily activities of smokejumpers when not fighting fires, as well as what it was like to work on a fire. He compares his time as a smokejumper to his time in the 101st Airborne and describes the differences between fighting fires in...

Abstract Virgil Derry discusses his early involvement with parachuting and testing equipment later used by smokejumpers. He describes the experimental jumps he made with his brother, Frank Derry, in 1939 for Eagle Parachute Company to determine the feasibility of dropping smokejumpers on fires. Derry talks about how he and his brother developed equipment and techniques that were later adopted by the early smokejumper program during these jumps. He also recalls his previous experience parachuting at...