The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-03
COL. CHAS. A.LINDBI
CHAPTER XVIII

l
A TOGETHER, about fifty-seven
L n lives have been saved by para
chutes in Government service. In
every instance the jump took place
because Of fog, engine failure, while
flying over unfavorable country, COL
lision of planes or other very definite
emergencies.
They say in the service that any
flier who jumps to save his life
becomes a member of the Cater
pillar Club" This is because the
parachute is made entirely of silk,
and silk comes from caterpillars.
All the f1tty-seven members of this
club feel that their lives have been
saved by the Silkworm caterpillar!
There is saying In the service
about the parachute: IF you need
1t and haven't got it, you'll never
need 1t again!" That just about
sums up its value to aviation.
For two of the last days we we're
on tactical maneuvers with the other
branches. Half of our number were
assigned to defend the bomberS and
observation planes, while the other
half attacked them.
When we met, a lively combat en-
sued and the air would be full of
pursuit planes in every conceivable
position, each trying to get on the
tail Of an enemy plane without being
first shot down itself.
At night in the barracks we would
argue about which side won the war,
but whenever one Of us would
demonstrate to the enemy that he
had been shot down In battle, an
other would interpose the claim that
he had put the attacking ship out
Of commission several minutes pre-
vious to the combat.
When graduation day arrived
eighteen of us remained of the one
hundred and four cadets who start
ed the course at Brooks year be-
fore.
We were presented with our wings
and commissioned second lieuten-
ants in the Air Service Reserve
Corps. That night we gave a fare
we'll dinner in San Antonio and for
the last time assembled together.
The next day We departed from
Kelly.
I went by rail to st. Louis and
took on O.X.-5 Standard out for a
transforming trip in Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Iowa.
The Postoffice Department had
just advertised a number of con-
tract air mail routes for bid. one of
which was between st. Louis and
Chicago by way of Springfield. Ill.
I decided to barnStorm around the
country until it was determined
which bidder would be assigned the
contract.
The Robertson Aircraft Corpora
ton had placed bid and offered me
the position of chief pilot If they
were successful in getting the con-
tract.
After returning from Iowa flew
on several flying circus dates and
made a few short crosS-country
fights to nearby cities.
On June second, while testing a
commercial plane built at Lambert
Field, was forced to make a second
emergency jump.
I had flown the ship for a few
minutes the previous week and on
this occasion was testing it for vari-
Gus maneuverS. 1 had completed
everything except tailspins, but
when 1 attempted a right spin the
plane refused even to start, so after
a second attempt with the same re-
suit I gave that up and tried one to
the left. The ship fell in easily and
when I reversed the controls after
a half turn. came out at once.
I then put 1t into a second left
spin and held the controls in a spin
ming position during two complete
turns When 7 reversed them they