Don Bowie
Museum Volunteer Docent
Your first question has to be, “what is the Caterpillar Club?”
The Cater
pillar Club is an informal association of people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft. After authentication by a parachute maker, applicants receive a membership certificate and a distinctive lapel pin.
The club was founded by Leslie Irvin of the Irvin Airchute Company of Canada in 1922. The name “Caterpillar Club” refers to the silk threads that made the original parachutes. In 1932, Fay Gillis Wells became the first woman member when she bailed out of her airplane. Today, there are more than 100,000 members.
On November 14, 1969, I became a member when he ejected from a “Flamed Out” F-4E at 120 feet while travelling at 100 Knots. It is estimated that the time from when Don pulled the handle to when he was on the ground was approximately eight seconds. I remember the canopy leaving, but I was pulling approximately “15 Gs” when the seat fired, so I don’t remember actually leaving the jet.
