Virgo,
My memory, like most on this thread it seems, is somewhat hazy! But something in the deep, dark, recesses of my brain is telling me that the SOP for Lindholme/ASRA drops from the Andover was downwind. I do however remember the practice drops we used to do off the coast of Masirah marking the pattern with smoke floats and marine markers. On one occasion the Nav called "MARK" and my mate, stood in the door with a float in his hand, replied "did you call Nav?" before realizing it was a command. You can probably guess what his name was! You also had to remember to take the "safety" pins out before the drop, very embarrasing if the MS 9 didn't inflate!!