Book excerpt: The Prop Blast is an airborne tradition steeped in history which has evolved over time and represents a traditional 'rite of passage' for many officers who have served with the parachute forces. Individual unit records record the names of many notable military leaders who have participated in this tradition while serving in airborne units. The conduct of each Prop Blast and the record thereof is a historical anecdote of an airborne unit's history. This condensed history captures the evolution of the Prop Blast in one such unit, the 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), and as a historical report, is designed to provide the reader an appreciation for the history behind this airborne tradition and its evolution within the battalion.