The WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation was formed to honor and serve the memory of the men who fought and died to preserve America's freedom during WWII as members of Airborne units of the United States Army. The activities of the Foundation also recognize and honor those who served and survived that conflict.

The Foundation serves that honorable purpose through the participation of its members in active parachute jumping in the style of the WWII airborne soldier utilizing an aircraft that actually participated in the invasion of Europe. These activities serve to further the memory of their unbending loyalty to the cause of freedom.

Further, it is the goal of the Foundation to foster, promote and engage in research of WWII airborne operations and military history and to inform and educate the public through airborne operations demonstrations throughout the United States.

Who We Are

Jumping from restored World War II C-47 aircraft, the “ADT” parachutes the old fashioned way, wearing authentic 1940’s uniforms and equipment and using round, static line-deployed World War II style parachutes. “While safety is of the utmost concern, we strive to be as authentic in form and action as possible because the  mission of the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team is educational.” said honorary Col. George Hicks, Commanding Officer of the unit. In addition to the educational aspect of our performance, we want to assure that the heroic deeds of the U.S. Airborne units and all U.S. Veterans of World War II are never forgotten”.

The WWII ADT is a living memorial to those brave sky soldiers who fought and died for freedom during the darkest hours of the Second World War. In fulfilling this mission the team has traveled several times to Europe to jump historic drop zones in Holland, France, and Belgium as part of commemorative activities there. As did the U.S. Airborne of over half a century ago, the WWII ADT members jump from heights of one thousand feet for demonstrations. “This is a far cry from the thirteen thousand foot altitude that most skydivers employ!” said Richard C. Wolf, Founder and Command Sergeant Major of the Team.

When the jumpers exit the aircraft door, the parachutes are deployed when the jumper reaches the end of the fifteen-foot static line (ripcord) attached to a cable in the aircraft. The main parachute will open in three to four seconds. If it does not, the jumper has only about four seconds to open the reserve parachute attached to his chest. “At less than fifteen hundred feet a jumper hanging under canopy can converse easily with people on the ground” said CSM Wolf.

In addition to actual parachute drops, the WWII ADT provides static displays and interactive forums for the public to meet team members who explain the various pieces of equipment used by WWII paratroopers. Children’s groups, including both Boy and Girl Scouts are particularly encouraged to participate. In fact, a special portion of most programs are set aside to brief school age children about the early history of America’s Airborne soldiers. This is also the opportunity for WWII veterans and their families to see the “tools of the trade” that they used over six decades ago. At most exhibition venues here in the States, we allow the public to tour our C-47 aircraft to get a sense what paratroopers experienced over sixty years ago.

Founded in 1998 by retired Army Special Forces First Sergeant Richard Wolf, the Team has grown to include members throughout the United States as well as members from allied European nations that also wish to pay homage to those who liberated their countries so long ago. Jumpers come from all walks of life including many active duty, reserve and retired military personnel. “The one common thread that binds our troopers to our mission is a desire to say thank you to surviving WWII veterans and to tell the veteran's heroic story to coming generations” said Hicks. Jumpers as well as all WWII Airborne Demonstration Team members are unpaid volunteers. Each is a graduate of either the US Army military parachutist course at Fort Benning, Georgia or they have completed a rigorous sixty-hour WWII ADT ground school and a minimum of five qualifying jumps.

Based at Frederick Army Airfield in Oklahoma, the Foundation has recently acquired  genuine WWII hangar and outbuildings. The aviation company of the WWII ADT now includes two aircraft of WWII vintage. “The C-47 Skytrain was built in 1942 in Oklahoma City and participated in the invasion of Europe in 1944” said CSM Wolf. The aircraft is painted, as it would have appeared in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, D-Day.

The World War II Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit, corporation, presently recognized by the United States government as an educational and research charitable trust with 501(C)(3) status under the US IRS Code. For further information contact the team Commander COL. George Hicks or Command Sergeant Major Richard Wolf at team headquarters: 918-424-4673. Print press, video requests and other media related questions may be forwarded to 2Lt. Craig Singhaus in the pubic affairs department at 410-340-9972 or email: singhaus@infionline.net