patmoore

Hi folks. When I joined the Tampa Sky Divers in 1967 we were actually located about a block away in a an old wooden building. A similar building next door was used as a pickle factory and later a home for gyro-copters. The MacDill AFB Club (of which I was also a member) moved to the Ranger bldg across from Bob Porter's place. Heading up that operation was Gene Ritchie and a guy named Jerry something or other. The Tampa Sky Divers moved to a sod farm in Brandon and then Riverview where Mac McGraw ran operations. That indeed is Ron Smith in the picture. He was an AF Captain and the best man at my wedding (my first one). Sorry I've been absent from this forum. In the winters my ski and snowboard racing pretty much take over my life. A week ago today I was in Winter Park at the NASTAR Nationals where I picked up my fifth National Championship in snowboarding. See photo. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Gosh. This thread lay dormant for a long time. When I started it over a year ago I mentioned a cool site called nelsap.org. Someone emailed me and said he was interested in creating a similar site for lost Drop Zones but never followed through. I design websites but don't have the time to pursue this project. Nevertheless I think it has merit and could really grow with all the input you folks could provide. Anyone interested in spearheading it? DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Hmmmm... My B number was 4600. I got a real low UK D number but will have to look it up when I get home. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

It was always one of my favorite sky diving flicks. There's a scene of some crash and burn accuracy jumps and I think one of 'em is me. BTW, The video was marked PRIVATE when I just tried to look at it but someone reposted it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzT-VY5UERc DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Hoop is a very accomplished writer. Now living in England he's obviously highly regarded there as well! I just stopped by the local Borders Book Store. They stock it but are out of stock at the moment. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I remember that plane well. Here's a shot someone took of me in it climbing to altitude. http://i35.tinypic.com/2qc1rw8.jpg DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I missed qualifying for Marana, AZ in '68 but went anyway. I got a chance to be part of the first ever sport jump from a C-46. The next year I competed, also at Marana. Roy Johnson won the men's division. In 1970, we moved to Plattsburgh, NY for a weather shortened event won by Clayton Schoelple. My memory is hazy after that (I'd have to check my logbooks) but I know I competed in two events at Talequah. It might have been 74-75 but I can't be sure. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Is that the same Joe Smith that opened a loft in Pennsylvania? In 1981 I was opening an employment agency in Springfield, MA and needed some operating capital. I called Joe to see if he was interested in my Singer 7-33 and he said "$1500, sight unseen". I drove down there the next day and delivered it. I heard that he subsequently passed away. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Hey Steve, I've been out of the sport a lot longer than I was in it but I'll hit the 50th anniversary of my first jump in a little over three years. That first jump at Orange in 1962 was my birthday present when I turned 16. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I still have a lot of them in a box in my garage. I subscribed to Parachutist, Sky Diver, Spotter, and DZ USA back then and have issues from 1965 to 1976. I sold a few of the older ones a while back but probably have fifty left. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Congratulations Steve! In three years I'll hit the 50th anniversary of my first jump but I hung it up years ago. You're an inspiration! DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Great shot of Pop! Thanks for sharing it. Sorry I couldn't make it down there. Would have been great reconnecting with so many folks from the past. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I hooked up with Richard Bach in freefall around 1975. He was the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and owned so many planes his fleet was called "Richard Bach's Air Force". DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Thanks. I should have recognized him. That looks like a large room I remember in the house at the DZ. Someone took a shot of me doing a standing back flip in that room with a whole bunch of the Pelicans standing around. After I got divorced, I forgot to retrieve a lot of those old photos. I just bought a slide scanner. As soon as the cast is off my foot, I'll dig out my slides from 60s and update the Picasa album I posted a while back. There will probably be some shots from Manassas. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I recognize Ottley, Bob Holler, and Billy Gifford. I don't see Johnny Crews. I first jumped with the Pelicans at Manassas, Virginia in the summer of 1966 when they shared a drop zone with the Targeteers. Dave Dulin was the pilot. When I was home from the service in the late sixties I made a few jumps at Ridgely. The Pelicans were an amazing bunch. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Nice shot! I definitely didn't build those rigs for Ed and Charlie. I still have the custom Red, White, and Blue harness and container that I built for Connie. As soon as the cast comes off my foot I'll haul down the rig and take a shot of it. It still contains Susie Neumann's US Team Papillon. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I ran into Johnny Higgins at Ottley's Memorial service. He was chatting with Lowell Bachmann who died a short time later. The Chute Shop produced the Mini System, one of the first good rigs for competing in the style event. I couldn't afford one so I built my own. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Roger, you're absolutely right. It was Ed and "Charlie" Moore. I found it in my log books. The date was March 8th, 1975 and my notes say we circled for an hour at altitude trying to find a hole. Mike Swain was the photographer. We actually had six people in one of the 182s. I'm attaching the photo of the reunion last Wednesday in Tampa. My wife Penny and Ron's wife Carmen are at the back of the photo. On the left is Donna Chmielewski (4000 jumps) and myself (2000 jumps). On the right in the middle is Ron Schott (3000 jumps) and Ski Chmielewski (5000 jumps) on the end. Hard to imagine but we represent 14,000 jumps. I met Ron and Ski in April 1967, 42 years ago and Donna maybe a year later. It was great to get back together with them after all these years. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

The dinner was great and Rumpson didn't show. I don't think he checks his emails too often. When I get home tonight I can post a photo of the reunion. Ed and Charlie Moore? Could be but I'm not sure. Hate it when my memory goes. I can check back through the old log books or just call the ex - she probably remembers. I may be wrong when I said I built every rig in that star. I think Lance was wearing a commercial rig that I had won in an accuracy meet. I traded it to him for an air conditioner. Here's a better picture of one of the rigs I built in the early seventies. I was exiting Z-Hill's DC3 and a woman Jeff Searles was dating took this shot out of the open window over the left wing. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Ruth and Lance and I'm embarrassed I can't remember the other two. I'll find out tonight. We're in Tampa and are having dinner with Ski, Donna, Ron, Carmen, and maybe Mike Patterson. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Other than the center pull reserve it looks like something I might have made back in the day.... Ain't though. See examples in this photo. I built every rig in this shot. BTW, this was the first all couples star. Their were four husbands and wives in the shot. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

You earned your military jump wings without going to jump school? Didn't know that could be done. I knew many of the Golden Knights back in the sixties and early seventies. I'm not aware that you could ever make the team without going to jump school. I recall a cartoon in Parachutist Magazine back then. A Knight had just met a babe in a bar and was saying, "Honey, every night with me is a golden night"! I went through Fort Benning during a miserably hot August in 1968. It was only a week after I had taken 3rd place at the military national sky diving championships at West Point. Many of the guys I had beaten were instructors at Benning. I had 431 jumps under my belt and to make matters worse I was an Air Force Sergeant! Tough to remain inconspicuous. I managed to hide my identity through ground week, tower week, and jump week and was rewarded with the Iron Mike for being top graduate. It's one of awards I treasure most. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Guess I have material for a new chapter "Lifetime Injuries" in my book. The ortho just called to say he now wants to do a CAT Scan. I may have to have surgery after all. I was a lot happier in this picture. Note the caption..... We're still coming to Tampa next week. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I like it! Nice layout and easy to navigate. I guess I need to read Bill's story. Looks fascinating. DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

Just got back from the NASTAR Nationals in Steamboat Springs, CO. I'm happy to report that I picked up my fourth National age group championship in snowboarding but tangled with a gate in one of my ski races and fractured my ankle. Climbing the podium with crutches was a little challenging but there was no lack of former US Olympians to help me up. Four time Olympian A. J. Kitt is in the lower left of the attached photo. Penny and I are still coming to Tampa on the 8th for anyone who wants to get together. Ciao, Pat DZGone.com B-4600, C-3615, D-1814, Gold Wings #326, Diamond Wings #152. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!