Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 26, 2018 15:59:40 GMT 12
This is quite a story, from the Auckland Star, dated 20 August 1941:
LAST-MINUTE LEAP
GISBORNE AIRMAN !
COVETED BADGE WON
(0.C.) GISBORNE, this day.
How he joined the exclusive "Caterpillar Club," membership of which is gained by a life-or-death parachute leap, is related by Pilot-Officer Krebs, of Gisborne, in a letter to his parents. Baling out at 1000 feet, his chute did not open till he was 300 feet from the ground. He landed in a tree.
"A lot of chaps here are jealous of my entry into the 'Caterpillar Club,' a name which comes from its badge — a small caterpillar brooch worn by members, giving name and date of initiation. It costs nothing," he writes, "to become a member. All you have to do is to abandon an aircraft in midair and make a successful parachute landing. The badge is supplied by the parachute makers, and you don't get them on a 'fun' jump — it has to be a matter of life or death.
"I was sent up one evening to teach myself aerobatics. I tried a few manoeuvres without much success, so tried looping, but on three occasions I went into a spin and recovered. Not to be defeated, I put her nose down again and clocked about 400 miles per hour before hauling her nose up. Again she spun and I couldn't stop it. Down I spun from about 15,000 feet, and try as I might I could do nothing with it, so I decided to get out.
"It must have been under 1000 feet when I got clear and, according to observers, my parachute did not start to open until I was only 300 feet up. I landed in a prickly tree and the plane fell close by, burning nicely. Heavens — I was lucky! If it hadn't been for the tree I should have broken my legs at least, for I was still dropping fast. I assure you that I was never so scared and shocked in all my life as when I sat in that tree and thought it over. I waited for help to get me out, and they didn't expect to find me alive. The funniest part was that when I was half-way down the ladder they brought to get me down it broke under us. An ambulance driver turned up from a nearby drome and was really disappointed to find me only bruised. It happens that I am the first man to make a jump at this 0.T.U., and my parachute packer was thrilled.
"I had to make out a lot of reports about the incident, but everything is 0.K., and I am free from blame and flying again. Another funny bit was that on the way back to billets we stopped at an inn and I ordered a double brandy. The barmaid looked at me and said: ' Heavens — anybody would think you had been in trouble!' "
LAST-MINUTE LEAP
GISBORNE AIRMAN !
COVETED BADGE WON
(0.C.) GISBORNE, this day.
How he joined the exclusive "Caterpillar Club," membership of which is gained by a life-or-death parachute leap, is related by Pilot-Officer Krebs, of Gisborne, in a letter to his parents. Baling out at 1000 feet, his chute did not open till he was 300 feet from the ground. He landed in a tree.
"A lot of chaps here are jealous of my entry into the 'Caterpillar Club,' a name which comes from its badge — a small caterpillar brooch worn by members, giving name and date of initiation. It costs nothing," he writes, "to become a member. All you have to do is to abandon an aircraft in midair and make a successful parachute landing. The badge is supplied by the parachute makers, and you don't get them on a 'fun' jump — it has to be a matter of life or death.
"I was sent up one evening to teach myself aerobatics. I tried a few manoeuvres without much success, so tried looping, but on three occasions I went into a spin and recovered. Not to be defeated, I put her nose down again and clocked about 400 miles per hour before hauling her nose up. Again she spun and I couldn't stop it. Down I spun from about 15,000 feet, and try as I might I could do nothing with it, so I decided to get out.
"It must have been under 1000 feet when I got clear and, according to observers, my parachute did not start to open until I was only 300 feet up. I landed in a prickly tree and the plane fell close by, burning nicely. Heavens — I was lucky! If it hadn't been for the tree I should have broken my legs at least, for I was still dropping fast. I assure you that I was never so scared and shocked in all my life as when I sat in that tree and thought it over. I waited for help to get me out, and they didn't expect to find me alive. The funniest part was that when I was half-way down the ladder they brought to get me down it broke under us. An ambulance driver turned up from a nearby drome and was really disappointed to find me only bruised. It happens that I am the first man to make a jump at this 0.T.U., and my parachute packer was thrilled.
"I had to make out a lot of reports about the incident, but everything is 0.K., and I am free from blame and flying again. Another funny bit was that on the way back to billets we stopped at an inn and I ordered a double brandy. The barmaid looked at me and said: ' Heavens — anybody would think you had been in trouble!' "
