Colchester paratroopers join NATO allies for parachute drop

The British soldiers teamed up with their NATO counterparts in the Netherlands to enhance their skills and pay homage to the bravery and sacrifice of Second World War airborne soldiers.

The exercise, named Falcon Leap, involved 92 paratroopers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade training with airborne colleagues from Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Germany, and the USA.

The Army's Parachute Display Team, the Red Devils, concluding the multinational parachute drop over Ginkel Heath in the Netherlands (Image: Mark Owens, British Army) The training culminated in a mass parachute drop to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, an Allied military operation during the Second World War fought in the German-occupied Netherlands in September 1944.

The annual exercise, first held in 2015, is led by the 11th Airmobile Brigade of the Royal Netherlands Army.

The first week focused on the logistical aspect of airborne operations, with troops preparing cargo loads for airdrops.

During the second week, the NATO paratroopers jumped into historic drop zones around Arnhem, including static line jumps and high-altitude low-opening freefall jumps.

Paratroopers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade prepare to jump from an Atlas A400m aircraft at Eindhoven airbase during Exercise Falcon Leap (Image: Mark Owens, British Army) Major Aden Philpott, of the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (7 Para RHA), said: "Exercises such as this provide the opportunity to strengthen our existing NATO partnerships so that if called upon, we are ready to operate alongside our allies."

The exercise concluded with a mass parachute drop onto the Ginkel Heath drop zone near Ede, demonstrating the current capabilities of NATO’s airborne forces and honouring the courage and sacrifice of those who fought in the Second World War Battle of Arnhem.

The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker, said: "I was very honoured and humbled to jump into Ginkel Heath to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

"It was a chance to reflect on the high courage and selfless sacrifice of those from Allied Airborne Forces who fought and died for the freedom of us all."

A memorial service was held on the drop zone after the parachute jumps, attended by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Defence Minister Lord Coaker.

Prior to the mass jump, the soldiers visited significant sites from the battle, including Arnhem’s John Frost Bridge over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem.