[robarr]

“The Caterpillar Club is an informal association of people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft. After authentication by the parachute maker, applicants receive a membership certificate and a distinctive lapel pin. The nationality of the person whose life was saved by parachute and ownership of the aircraft are not factors in determining qualification for membership; anybody whose life was saved by using a parachute after bailing out of a disabled aircraft is eligible. The requirement that the aircraft is disabled naturally excludes parachuting enthusiasts in the normal course of a recreational jump, or those involved in military training jumps.“

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_Club

[dctoedt]

Brought back memories of my dad's "induction" into the Caterpillar Club in 1962. When we cleaned out and sold my folks' house, I took a picture of his framed membership certificate; he often wore the lapel pin on civilian sport-coat lapels.

https://www.commondraft.org/Caterpillar-Club-certificate.png

[qingcharles]

Amazing. Thank you for that. Do you exist because he had an ejection seat?

[dctoedt]

> Do you exist because he had an ejection seat?

No, I was a little tyke at the time. (The story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33348425)