Carl Dammann Interview, July 25, 1981
Description
Carl Dammann describes how he got into smokejumping after working on U.S. Forest Service IR crews for several years. He details the decision that prompted him to switch to smokejumping after a particularly bad fire season in 1970 that required many days of mopping up. Dammann notes that, while jumping is something he enjoys, he doesn’t plan to remain a jumper for the rest of his life. He talks about his desire to move on and find something different. He details his first few jumps, his preference for riding in the door of the plane so he can look down and also so he can map out his jump point. Dammann mentions the job’s low pay, and he also talks about how many people glamorize smokejumping, but to him it’s just a job and that a lot of people could do it if they really wanted to. He briefly discusses what his wife and family think about his smokejumping. Dammann concludes by talking about the possibility of women becoming smokejumpers and details his concerns that they may not have the physical stamina to do the job.