origin of species

[fergmacleod]

Can anyone tell me if the side-laced jumpboots were an Army or Airforce design? And what about the front laced boots that replaced them? Heer or Luft?

Thanks!

Fergus.

[Eric Queen]

Fergus,

Side-lace boots existed prior to the formation of the army paratroopers (the Fallschirm Infanterie Kompanie was established April 01, 1937), and front lace boots ( for paratroopers ) were introduced after the army paratroopers were disbanded and absorbed into the Luftwaffe (the FIB offically transferred to the Luftwaffe on January 01, 1939 )

Hope this helps,

Eric

[Willi Z.]

As an interesting fact to this was the fact that the German Army first used a side lace boot in the late 1800's. Chris Mason once showed me a drawing that was dated from that period clearly protraying that exact boot design. Our conclusion at that time was that the side lace was not designed for parachute jumping, but rather that earlier design. In the '30's they merely used a boot whose design already existed. We believe that the theory that the boot was designed in a manner to not allow the boot to snag on the shroud lines is just mere speculation. Any jumper using a RZ series chute who gets his feet caught up in the shroud lines is in serious trouble...... The design of the boot would not really matter at that point.

Willi