Caterpillar Club facts for kids
The Caterpillar Club is a special group for people whose lives were saved by a parachute. To join, you must have jumped out of an airplane that was having serious problems. It's not for people who jump for fun or during military training.
After someone uses a parachute to escape a disabled aircraft, the company that made the parachute checks their story. If it's true, the person gets a membership certificate and a unique pin. It doesn't matter what country the person is from or who owned the plane. Anyone saved by a parachute from a broken aircraft can join. The Airborne Systems company in New Jersey still gives out these pins today.
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History of the Caterpillar Club
The Caterpillar Club was started in 1922 by Leslie Irvin. He owned the Irvin Airchute Company in Canada. Leslie Irvin is famous for inventing the first parachute that people could open themselves in 1919. Before that, parachutes had saved lives from balloons and some planes during the First World War.
Why is it called the Caterpillar Club?
The name "Caterpillar Club" comes from the silk threads used to make the first parachutes. It's a way to thank the silkworm, which makes silk. Some people also think of a caterpillar letting itself down from a tree on a silk thread. Another idea is that caterpillars have to break out of their cocoons to survive, just like pilots escaping a plane.
The club's motto is: "Life depends on a silken thread."
First Members and Famous Flyers
An early paper from the Irvin Parachute Company says that William O'Connor was the first person saved by an Irvin parachute. This happened on August 24, 1920, near Dayton. However, his jump wasn't officially recognized at the time.
The first official member was Lieutenant Harold R. Harris. On October 20, 1922, he jumped from a broken Loening PW-2A plane. Soon after, two reporters suggested forming a club for people saved by parachutes. Harris became the first member.
Many famous people have joined the club. These include General James Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and astronaut John Glenn. The first woman to become a member was Irene McFarland in 1925.
Growth of the Club
In 1922, Leslie Irvin promised a gold pin to everyone saved by one of his parachutes. By the end of the Second World War, over 34,000 people had received Irvin pins. However, it's thought that around 100,000 people were saved by Irvin parachutes in total.
Today, the company that took over from Irvin still gives out pins. Other parachute makers also have their own caterpillar pins. For example, GC Parachutes started their Gold Club in 1940. The Switlik Parachute Company also gave out gold and silver pins.
How to Become a Member
There are no yearly fees to be part of the Caterpillar Club. The Switlik club asks for a small fee when you join. Both the Irvin and Switlik clubs give out gold and silver pins shaped like caterpillars. The Irvin Golden Caterpillar pin even has purple (amethyst) eyes.
To join, you need to send proof of your jump to the parachute maker. They will then check your story.
Strict Rules for Membership
The rules for joining are very strict. You must have saved your life by using a parachute. For example, during the Second World War, RAF Flight sergeant Nicholas Alkemade fell from his plane without a parachute and survived. He was not allowed to join because he didn't use a parachute.
More recently, a group of twelve skydivers were not allowed to join. One of them hit the plane's tail, causing it to crash. He died, but the other eleven parachuted to safety. They didn't qualify because they had planned to jump from the plane anyway. However, the pilot of that plane was allowed to join the club.
Active Caterpillar Club Groups
The Caterpillar Club (North West) Association is an active group of members. They have a yearly get-together in Blackpool, England, every March. This group has about 70 members, including former Second World War RAF aircrew and their families. Even though it's called "North West," it welcomes members from all over the UK and the world. It is believed to be the last active Caterpillar Club group.
See also
- Goldfish Club
- Henri L'Estrange, parachute survivor of a hot air balloon crash 50 years before the club was founded
- Ejection Tie Club
