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dks13827

1972 The first 8 Man in Oklahoma ( at least with OK jumpers)

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In the summer of 72 we jumped at Stroud, OK, always from DZ owner Jim's Cessna 180. Sometimes his son would also bring out a 182. I was still a 30 jump guy falling base for 2 mans. Anyway, we were hearing about the Elsinore, Taft, Perris, Arvin guys making bigger and bigger stars. We wanted to do that in OK as well. Our guys were good, too, we just didnt have the aircraft and could only do 4 mans. Late one Sunday we had 8 experienced jumpers and 2 Cessna's ready to go for an 8 man. The excitement and tension were high as they took off and headed for 10,500. A great and solid 7 man was built before they ran out if time as the 8th man got below.
There were many tears on the ground as they got so so close, but didnt get it. Well, Sept 1, 1972 we had the DC-3 at Guthrie ready to take the jumpers up high, about 14,500. Watching our guys make it was unbelievably exciting, here they are, SCR#'s:
Award Last_Name First_Name MI City State Date
1878 Harvey Lee M Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72
1879 Pitts David M Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72
1880 Mansfield Jr. C. (Buster) A Guthrie Oklahoma 1881 Van Eman Fred H Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72
1891 Hill Fred M Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72
1924 Crenshaw Fred E Guthrie California 10-1-72
2nd jump, 9 man: SCS awards:
552 Van Eman Fred H. Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72 9th
585 Crenshaw Fred E. Guthrie Oklahoma 10-1-72 8th


I dont know the other names but that day our guys made an 8 and later a 9 man. God, but were we proud of them. It was a very difficult thing to do at that time.

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