Private Benjamin

Private Benjamin (1980)

3 factual errors - chronological order

(2 votes)

Factual error: Benjamin does not hook her static line back up. She falls but later her main chute opens. Does not function that way - she would have had to have thrown her reserve manually away from her body or else it would have wrapped around her, resulting in death. (01:45:00)

Factual error: When the unit is preparing for the Jump, they follow none of the correct procedure for a jump, but the most glaring mistake is that none of the Parachutes are equipped with a static line (the bright yellow nylon strap, that the parachutist hooks to a cable inside the plane to deploy his chute automatically.) Airborne infantry units always make static line jumps, so the line should have been visible on every chute.

Factual error: The Australian style "bush hat" worn by Capt. Lewis is only worn by a female drill Sgt. ie. Non-commissioned officers, never a commissioned officer (a.r 670-1).

Other mistake: When Judy leaves basic training she goes straight to the Thornbirds as an 11-Bravo (infantryman) with an airborne identifier. She would have had to attend 5 weeks of AIT and Jump school (and no she couldn't have had her airborne training with the unit, Jump school is only at Ft. Benning, GA.) before joining that unit. The same mistake is made when she goes to SHAFE, Belgium (Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces Europe), presumably as a 71-Lima (personnel actions specialist) again without going to AIT.

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