SMASHED TO PIECES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 May 1931, Page 4

SMASHED TO PIECES

LIEUTENANT QUILLER PARACHUTE FAILS TO OPEN HORROR AT OAMARU (By Telegraph—Press Association) OAMARU, 3rd May.. In full view of 1400 horrified spectators the Norwegian parachutist Lieutenant Haakon Quiller, aged 35 years, crashed to death from a ’plane piloted by Flight Lieutenant T. W. White, at an altitude of 5400 feet yesterday afternoon during a demonstration in aid of the local aero club. Tlie machine rose from a paddock near the racecourse and circled five times to gain altitude. Lieutenant Quiller jumped clear of the machine and when the parachute failed to open immediately the crowd thought it was part of the demonstration. Lieutenant Quiller fought 'frantically to open the parachute and then appeared to lose consciousness. The impact was so terrific that the body was literally smashed to pieces. OAMARU, This Day. At tlie inquest a verdict of death by mischance was returned. A cord looped round the parachute. The Norwegian parachutist, Lieutenant Haakon Quiller, who gave two demonstrations on Trafalgar Park in March, was killed at Oamaru on Saturday afternoon, while making a drop from 5400 feet.' After describing the working of the. parachute when interviewed in Nelson* on his recent visit Lieutenant Quiller said: “Another part of parachuting which makes it fascinating is the delayed drop in which the jumper delays the working - of the ripcord which releases the parachute until he has dropped several thousand feet.” Lieut. Quiller’s first experience of a delayed drop was unintentional. However, he learned much from it and has since practised it. “About ten years ago,” he related, “when 1 had had little experience—in fact it was about my fifth descent—and was using an old type of parachute, I left the 'plane at a considerable height and waited for the parachute to open. However, nothing happened and 1 saw the ’plane from which I had jumped getting smaller and smaller. 1 then got the idea I had left my parachuting gear behind, and thought that it was the end. However, I found my parachute bag on my back and that it was still packed and wired in its container. I pulled the bag up between ray legs, tore open tlie container and started to pull out the fabric of the ’chute; I was falling at an enormous speed and the parachute opened out with such suddenness that when it caught full in the air there was a loud report like the firing of a gun. I then made a successful landing. The watching crowd cheered and thought I had made a stunt descent. I was shaken up and did not tell for a long time that I had made a mistake. That experience showed me that it was possible to think and work while falling at enormous speeds. I then started to give public exhibitions of delayed drops “Of course, in this profession jumpers usually have to make one mistake only,” he added with a smile. In carrying out the delayed drop class of descent the jumper notices a slight feeling of sleepiness after falling about 3080 feet direct. Everything feels comfortable, he explained, and the-jumper feels that he is resting on the air. The air rushes through one’s half closed hands in such a manner that it feels as if one is grasping wads of cotton.” “Have you made a thousand descents?” the Norwegian was asked. “No,” he replied, “people in this profession do not live long enough to make that many.” He fixed his number oi descents at several hundreds. “However,” he added, “it is a fascinating game, and I’ll never get tired of it. Asked if he had any nerves Lieutenant Quiller said he certainly had, and also thought at times of the possibility of the 'chute failing him. There was always some slight reaction from any descent.