History
How was it that Missoula Montana produced what is believed to be the oldest collegiate skydiving club in the U.S. (Quite probably the world)?
As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary as a club, a couple of the "senior" members (Russ Beree and Bob Smith) decided to prepare an abbreviated history of our activities over the years for the Silvertip website. We welcome comments and revisions from present and former members.
So, why missoula montana? Well, for the same reason the U.S. Army sent troops to Missoula to be trained for parachuting at the outbreak of world war two. The smokejumper center in Missoula had been parachuting jumpers onto fires for many years and had experienced instructors and facilities.
For most of the smokejumpers it was a summer job only. Winters for most of them were spent studying at the University of Montana. Paul Tag and some of the other early smokejumpers / U of M students decided to jump for fun in the off season.
Parachutes were available at the army navy store for about $ 14 dollars, Johnson flying service had available planes set up for jumping and thus the group was formed.
The football team was still referred to as the silvertip grizzlies and so the parachuting club (the word skydiving had still not been coined) took on the name of "The Silvertips."
Many people know the Silvertips only as the jumpers at the grizzley games. What is not widely known, however, is that the club has produced four presidents of the national skydiving organizations, a Hollywood skydiving stunt man and many world record holders as well as representing the U of M very well at national collegiate skydiving competitions.
Additional information provided by Russ Beree, as told to him in a conversation with Paul Tagg on Aug. 28, 2007:
Jeff Davis and Carl Gildland started the club in 1957. Carl worked in the Nixon White House and is now retired in Idaho.
It was the MSU parachute club and renamed the Silvertip Skydivers in '61.
Paul was the president in '60. His first jump was a 30 second delay from a 1929 Curtis Wright Travelair,into Miller Ck. and he treed up!
The club went to the Collegiate Nationals in Orange Mass in '61 and Paul took 2nd.
He was the only SSD member to be on the US Team. He was on the team in 74 and went to South Africa and won the gold medal. In 75 he went to Germany with the US Team and won gold again. He was USPA President from '71 - '75.
On Dec. 23, 2007 Jim Dillon added.
Here is some information from my log book on the first 10 way
> > I spoke of. I thought you might like to pass it on for club history.
> >
> > Date: October 1, 1971
> > DZ: Grant Creek
> > A/C: DC-3
> > Altitude: 13,500 agl
> >
> > Jumpers:
> >
> > 1. Wayne Guazzo
> > 2. John Ward (Wardsy), ASO MT/7
> > 3. James Lewis Maxson (Max)
> > 4. Bob Murray
> > 5. BJ Worth (Beej)
> > 6. A.C. "Andy" McFarland
> > 7. Jim Dillon
> > 8. Jim Hewes
> > 9. Larry Mason
> > 10. Tom Kaiser
> > Contact: Mike Olsen
> >
> > This was the first "Big Way" BJ organized. We made it on the first
> > attempt. I exited 8th and entered 7th to close a lost grip. There
> > were 7 SCRs and 3 SCS' earned on this dive. I wrote in my log book
> > entry that "Russ was there in spirit". He, Russ Beree, was busy
> > flying in Vietnam at the time. This was obviously a state record,
> > and the first 10 way in the Northwest. It was built base-pin, no
> > floaters, break grips to enter, and not slot perfect. That was the
> > way we did it then. All jumpers were from Missoula. To my
> > knowledge, no photos were taken.
> >
> > Blue Skies,
> >
> > Jim Dillon
> > SCR 281
> > SCS 84
On Dec. 27, 2007 Fred Sand added:
Here is a photo that has a few of the same jumpers as Jim listed in his 10 way. (Note Interstate 90 in the background and lack of development) I think that this photo was taken by Nick Tousey. Here's some details and names of the people as I recognize them. My logbook has a notation that it was an "All Montana Beef" load. It ended up being a 14 way.
Date: October 21, 1973
DZ: Grant Creek
A/C: Twin Beech N119T.
In formation with Twin Beech (I think) N36F flown by "Lloyd". I believe that both were owned by Johnson Flying Service at the time. N119T is still in US registry and in Georgia; N36F is no longer in registry.
Altitude: 12,500 AGL
Jump #904
Starting at the 12 o'clock position in the photo and going clockwise:
In the blue jumpsuit and gold helmet is Stinky.
Black jumpsuit, (I think) is Greg Nardi
Gold jumpsuit, gold helmet is Gordy Lister in the slot
Multi colored piggyback is Russ Beree
Stars and Bars helmet is me earning my SCS; #1156
Billy Blair to my left
Red helmet is Steve Nardi (pretty sure)
White helmet is Jim Maxson
Tom Kaiser breaking in
Wardsy
BJ breaking in
Still to enter before breakoff are:
Monty Pugh
Dave Tousey
Rick Northway
If anyone can help identify which Nardi is which, I'd appreciate it. Or, any other additions or comments? Missoula was THE hotbed of RW for a long time. I have many other MSO photos/slides that I will scan and get to you.
As a couple sidenotes: I had only 54 jumps in my logbook by October 1, 1971. We built the first all-Osprey 8-star in Kalispell on 05-05-73, SCR #2292, my jump #591.
Blues,
Fred
on Feb 11, 2008 Rob Hepp posted:
I feel fortunate to have been involved with the Silvertips during the 80's. The early 80's had only a few experienced jumpers and few newbies. The only current jumpers at the time were Russ Read, Dave Stewart, Kirk Baker, Tara Sayles, and myself. The pilot was Jay Andrus. Our 180 was one one echo, and it puked an engine, the student gear was pretty shabby. With no money the club had an emergency meeting with all the present and old time members. Only 10 folks showed up at Russ Reads home. I think that was our all time low,..we did rebound from the ashes and actually were responsible for getting the facility setup in Stevi. We aquired some safe piggyback gear with square mains, and mechanical Auto-openers. We had a very safety oriented solid student program. We trained every weekend, and I was always proud of our little tight knit group of jumpers. Early on, our boogie schedule was to go to Helena, Kalispell, Bozeman, and Great Falls with our aircraft so we could do formation loads. In the mid 80's we organized Boogies with Twin Otters and invited all the jumpers we could from the Northwest.(usually get 50 jumpers) Highlights during the 80's: I was the first to get a tandem rating in Montana,...We had 4 or 5 AFF instructors, including myself. We had 4 local jumpers jumpers compete in the intermediate 8-way at the nationals.(4 others and a videoman also from Montana) Our team was called MONTANA, and we took third in 85, and won in 86. I guess you can store this in the who-gives a shit department,...but I am proud to have been a part of the Silvertip Skydivers, and am glad we still have folks caring on the tradition.
Bob Murray provided the following photo. (1971 A.D.)
left to right:
BJ Worth, Bob Murray, Russ Beree, Larry Mason, Skip Alderson, Andy McFarland
Wayne Guazzo, John Ward, Bob Smith, Mike Olson
On March 3, 2008 Russ Beree contributed the following photos
Lloyd Hansen (pilot) Frank Sanders, John Ward, Mose, Bob Smith, Max and Westy
Beree, Mosley, Maxon and Ward