Parachutes RFC/RAF.......

[Viscount]

hi all,

It is well known that the RFC/RAF were not issued with parachutes during WW1 due to the opinions of those in authority who did not have to fly in combat.

When after WW1 was this policy changed and were there any official reasons given?

And I wonder what the opinions of those who survived were to the post war change of policy??

Regards,
Viscount

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Viscount:
At McCook Field, Dayton Ohio there was formed a Parachute Committee in 1918 headed by Major Hoffman. This Committee acquired parachutes from all sources and tested there performance. As A result of this committee work the 24' Seat S-1 parachute was developed and it became the world standard with most of the Patents held by Leslie Irvin. The U.S.Army Air Service adopted this parachute and it was made mandatory that all pilots in the Air Service were to wair them when flying. The RAF adopted the 24' Irvin Seat Pack as their service parachute in I believe 1923. In the late 1920s Irvin produced the S-5 with a Quick Release Box and this was the RAF Standard at least through WW2. Irvin set up factories all over the world. The Luftwaffe use Irvin parachutes. The US Army never adopted the Quick Release Box until After Walter Winchell, a "newscaster" worked over the Army when a large number of Paratroopers were injured in parachute landings in high winds and experienced difficulty getting out of the harness. A thumbnail>
Blue skies,
Dan-San