Books on Smokejumping

This collection consists of published books on smokejumping. Books included in this collection include base histories and reminiscences of retired smokejumpers.

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A History of the USDA Forest Service Aviation Program : Firefighting Missions

United States Forest Service

This United States government publication is a history of the many uses of aviation personnel and equipment by the United States Forest Service from the first request for aerial reconnaissance in 1919 to developments in infrared technology from the 1990s forward. Of particular interest to this collection is Chapter 4, which focuses on the history of smokejumping in the United States Forest Service.

This publication was originally posted online by the United States Forest Service. Other documents may be found through their publications site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/publications.
Book of Gobi, Book 1: Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, 1943-1981

Stan Collins

The three volumes of the Book of Gobi were compiled in coordination with reunions held at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base: Book 1, 2002; Book 2, Light and Image, 2006; and Book 3, Mountains and Desert, 2011. Each book has a rough chronology. Stories were submissions by both jumpers and those having an association with the Gobi. Interspersed with the stories are period newspaper articles, comments, and pictures.

All stories were personal responses as to what made the Gobi special or why was the Gobi special. The thirty-eight years of the stories in these three volumes reflect early objectors of conscience, coming-of-age youth, returning military personnel, summer college students, and local area residents. Great truth is reflected in these stories with all their embellishments and pride and with all their devotions to camaraderie and sense of mission.
Book of Gobi, Book 2: Light and Image

Stan Collins

This book is the second in a series of books about the history of Siskiyou Smokejumper Base in Cave Junction, Oregon (a.k.a., Gobi). It consists of the written memories of those who worked at the base. The following is from the book's introduction.

The Book of Gobi, Book 2: Image and Light continues in the manner of Book 1. It is loosely formed around the question, “What made the Gobi special?”...As before, this book is in rough chronology. More pictures have been included with Book 2. Clarifying remarks precede some stories to include necessary information and to maintain a clear order. Contributors have been recognized either by the first year they served at the Base or by their timely association with the Base.
Book of Gobi, Book 3: Mountains and Desert

Stan Collins

This book is the third in a series of books about the history of Siskiyou Smokejumper Base in Cave Junction, Oregon (a.k.a., Gobi). It consists of the written memories of those who worked at the base. The following is from the book's introduction.

The Book of Gobi, Book 3: Mountains and Desert is likely the last in this series. As the two previous books, this one continues to answer the what and the why of the Gobi. In so many of the stories throughout the three volumes, a young person arrives at the Gobi and undergoes a transformation, and in later years tries to explain what happened in those mountains and on that desert.
CPS Smokejumpers 1943 to 1946 Life Stories, Volume I

Roy E. Wenger

This volume contains life stories largely written by former members of the Civilian Public Service (CPS) who served as smokejumpers during World War II. The CPS consisted of conscientious objectors seeking an alternative to military service. This volume includes the life stories of:
John Ainsworth
Delbert Barley
Luke Birkey
James R. Brunk
Benjamin W. Case
George C. Case
Catherine Harder Crocker
Frances Deal
Ray N. Funk
Les Gahler
Bryn Hammarstrom
Willard D. Handrich
Lee Hebel
Ivan E. Holdeman
William S. Laughlin
Lee Miller
Allen J. Moyer
Phillip Neal
Robert H. Painter
Russell Palmer
Theodore Pfeifer
Gregg Phifer
Clarence E. Quay
Walter B. Reimer
Laurel R. Sargent
Earl Schmidt
Charles E. Schumacher
Maynard W. Shetler
Bradshaw Snipes
Philip B. Stanley
Philip R. Thomforde
Edwin A. Vail
Forence Wenger
Marie Ediger Widmer
Arthur J. Wiebe
Floyd F. Yoder
Richard S. Zehr
Ralph Ziegler
CPS Smokejumpers 1943 to 1946 Life Stories, Volume II

Roy E. Wenger

This volume contains life stories largely written by former members of the Civilian Public Service (CPS) who served as smokejumpers during World War II. The CPS consisted of conscientious objectors seeking an alternative to military service. This volume includes the life stories of:
Murray Braden
Ralph C. Belzer
Bill Bristol
Wilmer Carlsen
Clarence W. Dirks
David Flaccus
Ebner J. Friesen
Albert L. Gray, Jr.
Calvin Hilty
Jacob M. Hisey
Merle Hoover
Dorothy and Ray Hudson
Lloyd C. and Jean Hulbert
Vernon S. Hoffman
Alan Inglis
Gus Janzen
David V. Kauffman
Lloyd King
George S. Leavitt
Richard Lehman
Ralph Miller
Sheldon M. Mills
Ray and Dawn Phibbs
Roy L. Piepenburg
Leon and Jeanne Ratzlaff
George H. and Betty Robinson
Abe J. and Lelia Schlabach
Warren C. Shaw
P.B. Stanley
W. Dale Stutzman
Tom Summers
Harold Toews
William P. Weber
Harry D. Weirich
Merlo M. Zimmerman
Norman Zook
CPS Smokejumpers 1943 to 1946 Life Stories, Volume III

Roy E. Wenger

This volume contains life stories largely written by former members of the Civilian Public Service (CPS) who served as smokejumpers during World War II. The CPS consisted of conscientious objectors seeking an alternative to military service. This volume includes the life stories of:
Joe Coffin
Kenneth Diller
Dale Entwistle
T. Richard "Dirk" Flaharty
John E. Garber
Chalmer C. Gillin
Louis Goossen
Albert L. Gray, Jr.
Jonas D. Hershberger
Ivan Holderman
Marshall Jensen
Norman D. Kauffman
Earl Kenagy
Wayne D. Kurtz
Allen Dean Lehman
Ted Lewis
Dennis D. Miller
Laurence R. Morgan
Asa Mundell
Frank E. Neufeld
Lena D. Neufeld
Joseph C. Osborn
Oliver Petty
Gregg Phifer
Walt Reimer
Homer Allen Rice
John Scott
Lowell V. Sharpes
Winton Howard Stucky
Earl Stutzman
Clarence Tieszen
Levi Tschetter
Richard S. Weaver
Roy E. Wenger
David S. Yoder
Loren Zimmerman
History of the North Cascades Smokejumper Base

William D. Moody

This book provides a brief history of the North Cascades Smokejumper Base, from the origins of smokejumping in the United States to 2002. The initial experiments to test the feasibility of smokejumping in the United States were conducted at the North Cascades base. This history focuses on the development of smokejumping in the United States, providing descriptions of notable events and milestones, as well as individuals important to the history of smokejumping. The book also includes a timeline that extends to 2001, an update to the first edition, and a North Cascades Smokejumper Base roster from 1940-2002.
La Grande Smokejumper Base: A Base Histroy, 1974-1982

National Smokejumper Association

This book provides a brief history of the La Grande Smokejumper Base focusing primarily from the establishment of a permanent base in 1974 to its closure in 1982. In addition to a narrative history, the book includes several photographs, statistics on jumps and staffing levels, and annual base rosters and group portraits.
Parachute Jumping in Forest Fire Control Fall 1939

United States Forest Service

A report on the smokejumping experiments near Winthrop, Washington in 1939. This copy of the report includes memos to regional foresters based in McCall, Boise, and Salmon, Idaho.

Members of the experiment team included Chet and Frank Derry, Harold C. King, Beach Gill, D.P. Godwin, Dick Tuttle, and Walter Anderson. Photographs from the Albert Davies photograph collection are used in the report.
Redding Smokejumper Base

National Smokejumper Association

This book provides a brief history of the Redding Smokejumper Base from its establishment in 1957 to the publication of the book in 2024. The Redding base serves United States Forest Service Region 5, which includes California and Hawaii. The book contains profiles of base managers and other important employees over the base's history, photographs of the base and crew, crew portraits, statistics detailing the activities of the base, and a roster of jumpers based at Redding.
Siskiyou Smokejumper Base: A Proud History, 1943-1981

National Smokejumper Association

This volume describes the history of the Siskiyou Smoekjumper Base at Cave Junction, Oregon from its establishment in 1943 to its closure in 1981 and the development of the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum. The history is organized into 6 different time periods comprised partly of quotes from past smokejumpers. The book also includes base portraits, a roster of Siskiyou smokejumpers, and the annual number of fire jumps from the base.
United States - Russia fire management expert exchange: Irtusk region

United States. Forest Service. Southwestern Region, Deanne Shulman, and Dennis Hulbert

This report includes details of an exchange of information and techniques on aerial wildland fire fighting between the United States and Russia in 1993. The exchange took place in Irtusk, which is in south-central Russia and covered smokejumping and rappelling. The report also contains information about the U.S. delegation, Russian smokejumping songs translated into English, and a chronological narrative of the visit.
U.S. - U.S.S.R. technical exchange program: Smokejumping - rappelling, October 1976

William D. Moody and United States. Forest Service

This technical report was prepared by North Cascades Smokejumper Base manager Bill Moody on his detail to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the exchange of information and techniques related to the management of forests in October 1976. The report includes various aspects of wildland fire fighting by use of smokejumping and rappelling, from recruitment to fire suppression. The report is prefaced by a brief summary by Moody about the exchange.