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WWII Jump Wings - Who Could Wear Them?


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gauthieb3sxz

Quick question. If a soldier passed the qualifications and earned jump wings, could he wear them throughout the war if he was kicked out of jump school and went to normal infantry?

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When you say "he was kicked out of jump school" I would think that he did not meet their standards and did not qualify for jump wings.

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Apparently he passed the course but was kicked out after he qualified.

If the jump school later sent him a certificate of completion then yes he would be able to wear the jump wing but if not and he simply feels that he qualified then I would think no he would not be authorized to wear the jump wing.

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triplecanopy

I can think of at least two reasons why Parachute wings, once awarded might be taken away. One, that of being a jump refusal. Example: Jumper in an aircraft, standing in the door and given the "go" command and then refusing to jump. I know of several instances where that happened and their jump wings were taken away by military orders. In one instance, the subject was a student in Ranger School. He refused to jump and even though given a second chance, still refused. Since he was an ROTC Ranger Student, He was kicked out of Ranger School, His Jump wings were revoked and his Officer Commission cancelled. The other is disciplinary. Example: a soldier commits a serious crime (Beyond Article 15 punishment) A Courts Martial can order a soldier stripped of all awards and decorations. If also a paratrooper brought discredit to an Airborne unit back in WWII, I suppose that he might removed from Jump status and made to forfeit his jump wings. While on Jump Status to maintain proficiency, a paratrooper usually has to make at least one parachute jump every 90 days. They called them "Pay Jumps". If one missed making a pay jump, then he would lose jump pay, but not his wings. If he missed manifest call and refused to jump, then he was a jump refusal and then would suffer the loss of his wings. I hope that clears it up.

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I can think of at least two reasons why Parachute wings, once awarded might be taken away. One, that of being a jump refusal. Example: Jumper in an aircraft, standing in the door and given the "go" command and then refusing to jump. I know of several instances where that happened and their jump wings were taken away by military orders. In one instance, the subject was a student in Ranger School. He refused to jump and even though given a second chance, still refused. Since he was an ROTC Ranger Student, He was kicked out of Ranger School, His Jump wings were revoked and his Officer Commission cancelled. The other is disciplinary. Example: a soldier commits a serious crime (Beyond Article 15 punishment) A Courts Martial can order a soldier stripped of all awards and decorations. If also a paratrooper brought discredit to an Airborne unit back in WWII, I suppose that he might removed from Jump status and made to forfeit his jump wings. While on Jump Status to maintain proficiency, a paratrooper usually has to make at least one parachute jump every 90 days. They called them "Pay Jumps". If one missed making a pay jump, then he would lose jump pay, but not his wings. If he missed manifest call and refused to jump, then he was a jump refusal and then would suffer the loss of his wings. I hope that clears it up.

Thanks for answering , it clears up a question I have had for 40 some years. Many years ago we had one member who was injured by his static line some how wrapping around his neck exiting. He refused to jump when he returned from the hospital despite being given many chances to do even a Hollywood jump or tail gate jump. He was not allowed to wear his wings on his uniforms and was transferred out.I do not know if his DD214 would reflect that ( was his parachutist qualification - P removed?) as he still earned his wings with Jump school graduation and had probably about 20-25 jumps at the time.
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triplecanopy

To try and answer your question about his DD-214 and "P" identifier: I quote above: "He was not allowed to wear his wings on his uniforms and was transferred out". Most likely he would have had the award of Parachute Wings revoked by orders and that would also remove his qualification as a parachutist. His DD-214 may or may not show his airborne schooling, but no award or qualification should be indicated. If he was transferred out of an Airborne unit that would also be on military orders as well as termination of jump status. Those two things do not appear on a DD-214.

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