Narrated by actor Glen Ford, this circa 1960 film “CHUTING STARS” shows the U.S. Navy’s parachute demonstration team. Some of the film takes place at the Chuting Stars’ headquarters at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. You’ll see the team packing their chutes and run through their ground training at Forest Sherman Field. The team’s specialized chutes are discussed, as well as various training exercises. The film also covers the team’s March through November performance schedule at various air shows around the country. Includes numerous jumps.
The background on this film is this: In 1961, the U.S. Navy Parachute Exhibition Team, “Chuting Stars” was formed to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Naval Aviation. The Parachutists assigned to the original team were selected from the Navy Test Parachute Unit, NAF, El Centro, CA. Their success led to permanent status and a move to NAS, Pensacola for the 1962 to 1964 air show seasons. The team was also expanded and included personnel from other ratings. However, midway through the 1964 season, the “Chuting Stars” became the victim of budget cuts and their operation was discontinued.
Two years later, the Chief of Naval Operations authorized a Navy Parachute Team to be based at NATTC, Lakehurst, NJ. A full schedule of demonstration and competition parachuting events were maintained into 1969, when authorization was granted to reactivate the “Chuting Stars” designation as the official U.S. Navy Parachute Team. In 1971, following a successful season, the same fate of budget cuts that discontinued the previous “Chuting Stars” grounded the current team for the final time.
Today the U.S. Navy’s “Chuting Stars” are known as the “Leap Frogs” and normally represent the SEALs at airshows.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
