§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War if the high-altitude parachute descent by eight men on 30th January, 1962, was a military or Service descent; and if it was made from a Service aircraft.
Mr. ProfmnoFree-fall parachuting is an official Army activity, and the men from 22nd Special Air Service Regiment who had volunteered for this descent were on duty. A civilian aircraft, which was particularly suitable for parachuting at very high altitudes and which had been cleared for parachute descents by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation, was used on this occasion.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War if a Royal Air Force parachute given for a team of eight men to jump from 34,000 feet over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962.
§ Mr. ProfumoYes.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War if War Office permission had been instructor was carried on board the aircraft from which eight men descended by parachute over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962.
191W
§ Mr. ProfumoNo. However, the Commanding Officer of 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, who is one of the most experienced free-fall parachutists in the Army, himself acted in the capacity of instructor and gave the executive jump instructions.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War if exclusively military equipment was used by the eight men who descended by parachute over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962.
§ Mr. ProfumoNo. The parachute equipment was privately owned by the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment. All the parachutes had been in frequent recent use, and were checked and repacked immediately before the descent. Some of the equipment had been purchased privately from my Department.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War whether the eight men involved in the exercise over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962, descended through cloud; and what was the cloud base over the dropping area.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe parachutists entered a layer of light cloud at 6,000 feet, and emerged from it slightly above 2,000 feet. They were instructed to open their parachutes at 2,000 feet, and at this height they were all clear of cloud.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War how close to the target the men involved in the descent by parachute 192W over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962, landed.
§ Mr. ProfumoSeven men landed on the dropping zone. The eighth man jumped late and landed safely two or three miles away.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements had been made to warn airfields and aircraft in the vicinity that the parachute descent over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962, was to take place.
§ Mr. ProfumoAll necessary warning action was taken before the aircraft's flight. The descent took place on a recognised dropping zone, which is marked as a permanent danger zone to all aircraft. The aircraft from which the men jumped was under radar control at the time.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for War if the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, was consulted before the parachute descent was made over Salisbury Plain on 30th January, 1962, by eight men; and if their advice was followed.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs this was an attempt on a record, the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough was consulted and gave much valuable advice. However, decisions such as whether jumping should take place, at what height, and so on, were naturally for the Commanding Officer to take since he was able to take into account the conditions at the time of the descent.