rigger

[michael smith]

Hope i am in the right spot for this.My father was in the glider pilot reg.during the 2nd w.w.His name was James Smith and he was a sargeant.On my birth cert. he was classed as aircraft rigger.Would appreciate someone filling me in on what this entailed.My mother and father broke up after the war and i have lost contact.He would be well in to his eighties now if still alive.MAny thanks in anticapation.Mike Smith.

[Gary W]

Hope i am in the right spot for this.My father was in the glider pilot reg.during the 2nd w.w.His name was James Smith and he was a sargeant.On my birth cert. he was classed as aircraft rigger.Would appreciate someone filling me in on what this entailed.My mother and father broke up after the war and i have lost contact.He would be well in to his eighties now if still alive.MAny thanks in anticapation.Mike Smith.

Hi

The two types of rigger I have come across in the military are concerning the fitting out of aircraft for different loads, equipment and personnel. The other, which is more pertinent to Para/Airborne forces was the rigging of specialist equipment and vehicles in preparation for airborne operations/assaults. As you say he was in the Glider Pilot Regt this would be more likely as it involved the fitting out of gliders internally to take jeeps, artilery pieces, pallets of ammo, stores and equipment required for use on the DZ/LZ for immediate ops. Also the securing of all the equipment and vehicles to stop any movement during take off, flight and more importantly landings (Don't want a jeep flying through the front of a glider on impact etc) In modern times -over past 30 years I had been part of Para Regt and did rigging and checkers courses to put similar equipments- land rovers and trailers etc onto Medium Stressed Platforms (MSPs) prior to their loading into Hercules and other suitable aircraft prior to air dropping same. This involved lashing, chaining and securing equipment using air bags, wooden shock struts, padding, taping and tying any loose items etc- a long and tedious job for what amounted to 30 seconds of para descent onto the DZ/LZ etc.

Hope this helps

Gary A Wallace

Major

Mainly TA 15 & 4 Para with a bit in 2 Para mid 70s to present