Paratroops and Transport air groups

[Ian R]

The 503rd Regiment's parachute drop on Nadzab in 1943 (an undefended target) was conducted from an altitude of 450- 500 feet*. They even dropped a battery of Australian short 25 lbrs with them. This is definitely static line drop territory. (Edit: *Wartime newsreel, so maskirovka cannot be excluded. There wasn't a whole battalion of Australians, either. It actually sounds like, at the 14 second mark, reference to "Lae" has been censored out.)

This was the first proper combat jump in SWPAC and Kenney and Mac were observing from a low flying B17.

Check out the video at this you tube link