Sky high for WWII vet’s birthday

  • Courtesy of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team-USA. Vince Speranza, a 98-Year-old World War II Veteran Paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division shortly after leaving a vintage World War II C-47 for a tandem skydive with Art Shaffer of Skydive Palatka.
    Courtesy of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team-USA. Vince Speranza, a 98-Year-old World War II Veteran Paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division shortly after leaving a vintage World War II C-47 for a tandem skydive with Art Shaffer of Skydive Palatka.
  • Courtesy of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team-USA. Vince Speranza, World War II veteran paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division pins RCPT-USA jump wings on a student who completed a five-day Round Canopy parachute training course in preparation for jumps into Normandy, France and airshows in the United States later this year.
    Courtesy of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team-USA. Vince Speranza, World War II veteran paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Division pins RCPT-USA jump wings on a student who completed a five-day Round Canopy parachute training course in preparation for jumps into Normandy, France and airshows in the United States later this year.

World War II veteran Vincent J. Speranza was flying high over Palatka for his 98th birthday Saturday.

The veteran, among the last of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” took a leap from the vintage WWII C-47, the “Tico Belle” over the weekend with Skydive Palatka’s Art Shaffer in a highly anticipated tandem jump.

Speranza was the guest of honor as members of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team - USA made several practice jumps in preparation for several events in the US and over Normandy later this year.

Tags
Skydive Palatka
veteran
World War II veteran Palatka