Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07

not a very good swimmer. and with all
the clothes wore, in addition to the
chute strapped on. was bit fright
ened. I struck out. Unable TO make
Roadway, I eXtricated myself from the
chute and swan for shore again. was
so tired and winded my arms could
take me no farther.
Practice Jump for All Flyers.
"Then 1 saw a rowboat making for
me. so tried to Urn over on my back
and float until it came. In turning
over my feet struck bottom and real
lied 1 was on terra firma.
IT am convinced that if had worn
the heavy flying clothes had intended
to wear I surely would have drowned.
My greatest mistake was working into
state of exhaustion while trying to
free myself from harness.
1T appears to me that the flying
personnel does not have enough ex-
perience in the care and handling of
chutes. 1 believe all flyers should have
at least one practice jump.
"On recent coaSt-to-coast flight and
return / was member of the crew of
four that covered $500 miles. During
this trip never once had my chute
strapped to me, since We regarded 1t
as excess baggage. None of us planted
faith in 1t, and if an accident had oc-
CURED we would have gone down with
the plane rather than trust pack.
II shall never go up in another ship
without my parachute
Sergt. Miller, awarded second degree
by his Norfolk jump, unfolds the tale
radio compartment.
ST was communicating with Station
DOL of the Second Bombaroment Group
| Field
| the crash came. I thought one OF the
motors had thrown a propeller. as had
| happened in May. But as looked out
of the fuselage window I dismissed the
| bad motor idea and proceeded TO the
rear cockpit not forgetting to pull my
receiver plug, which had failed to do
on my first Caterpillar jump.
Il craWled over the side. ready to
| drop as soon as Sergt. Jewell jumped.
moi"
"T tried to let go with my left hand,
| hut the spring step caught my nttle
| finger. After some anxious moments
got it free and dropped. AS soon as
| had turned over, head down, l pulleo
| the rim cord. and in my excitement
threw it away, forgetting that wanted
very much to save it. The chute func-
toned much quicker, believe, tnan on
my first jump. 49,
Judging where would alight, pre-
dicted it would be exactly on the shore
line. began unbuckling the snaps IN
case I hit water. While christening
| the left leg strap I fell into the river
! All my wriggling would not get me out
of harness. Being able to stand on the
bottom, with water just above my
mouth, swan few strokes. A row.
boat came alongside and the occupants
helped remove my harness before res
cuing Sergt. Jewell.
Learning that Lieut.. Stuart also
was safe. I accepted a kind invitation
to dry my clothes in a nearby home.
LAS a footnot I wish to state that
my reason for dropping off the side OF
the fuselage on both jumps is the near
ness of the rear pit to the tail on the
LBS.
my idea of getting out ola disabled
ship is to get out the best way you can
think of"
The upshot Of the sea hawks attack
and the Caterpillar jumps was an ex-
change Of official communications. The
chief of the Army Air Corps dispa tched
ley Field, inquiring whether 1t is a
general practice for planes from Hamp-
ton Roads to use ships of your station
as targets on which practice attacks
may be made; whether there Is any
agreement between the commanding
officer of Hampton Roads that his pilots
may practice attacks on aircraft from
your station; whether on November 9.
1927. any specific authority was granted
the Navy to use the bomber flown by
Lieut.. Stuart as target for their
hawks ."
The answer to the chief communique
was MOI
Both air services vowed never again
to launch surprise assaults in times of
peace. The loss of one r ,riner's life
is somewhat assuaged by the enlist
ment OF three members If the order.
Given a chance, the parach :e can sus-
pend death
(Copyrisht, $780,
Next-The Bomber Attac'-. Two West
Point classmates join the Caterpillar