PILOTS SAVED

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1941, Page 6

PILOTS SAVED

BRITISH PARACHUTES RELIABLE RUGBY, February 9. Five lighter pilots, who had “baled cut" by parachute, visited a factory in Britain during the week-end to thank men and women who had made their parachutes. One after another the pilots climbed on to a table to tell their experiences when they jumped cut, and each said, rather nervously, “Thank you for saving,my life." One pilot, describing his sensations during his first parachute jump, said: “I began to float down, and the sensation was absolutely wonderful. 'I here was the North Sea below, and a little ship. 1 saw my plane crash into the sea, and 1 was very sorry., I began to breathe very deeply as I watched the sea in case I went under. As I hit the water, I pressed a button, which threw off my parachute harness, and, in a couple of seconds, I was swimming round, enjoying myself. Then a little boat came out from the ship, and picked me up. The second lime 1 had to jump when over London. Weli, here we are again. 1 had done if before. It was easy this time. 1 duly landed, quite comfortably, in a blackberry bush. I picked myself up, and found a rifle muzzle levelled at my head, but I made myself known and was taken to hospital.”