Paratrooper with Folding Bike and Machine Gun Mid Air

[Tony Bologna]

This photo is something else for those haven't seen it. I don't know anything about parachuting, but I'd imagine all of that weight would make for a difficult jump.

[LOTHRINGEN]

Impossible !!!!
First point : how can they pass the door ?
You can also not the parachute is not a German RZ.

Where does this pic come from ?

[Tony Bologna]

Impossible !!!!

You're right, it's a painting by an Italian Fortunino matania

[Willi Z.]

Interesting yes.

But, impossible to the point of being beyond absurd.

[SMP]

Hard men , jumping without helmets

[Gil]

...and with a MG under the nose.

[Willi Z.]

You can easily jump without helmets. The 1st FJs did that. You would be severally hurt with a bicycle and carrying a weapon like that.

The FJs later in the war jumped with MGs and even mortar tubes.

[eubank]

It's the Russians jumping into snow drifts that impresses me !

[eubank]

....not to mention digging your way out !!

[dragnet]

And I belive there triplets

[Matt M]

You might be able to jump with all that stuff on you like that,
but it would not be on you too long...…..LOL

[Gran Sasso]

A vet once told me that he has kicked his bike out of the door immediately before he jumped - no idea if it had its own chute, was attached or how it worked.

[W Petz]

Looks like a fantasy drawing of a FJ jump into Holland in 1940. As pointed out not a RZ parachute, no helmet, and they would be severally injured or killed jumping with a bicycle and MG attached to them.

[Jos L C]

They have MG 42's, so not 1940 ..
A single wheel bike, like the ones in the circus would've been a option maybe ..

In Holland, the Germans just confiscated the bikes, there were plenty.


Jos

[W Petz]

Jos...Actually they appear to be MG34's. The scenario with windmill and canals suggest a jump into Holland..so that is why I said it is a fantasy drawing with the wrong type of parachute, no jump helmets, MG's and bicycles. I lived in Rotterdam for five years in a home right next to a canal (actually my backyard) and not far from a Windmill.



I agree many bicycles were taken from the Dutch by the Germans as that was the main way of getting around in those days. Many Dutch still ride their bikes to get to work and for recreation..not to mention sport.