[paulmcmillan]

From a article I read


The name of Lieut, Schildhauer, U. S.N. is omitted from the Engineering Division list, it being stated that his was a premeditated and not an emergency jump"



In 1925 he established a world's record for endurance for seaplanes which stood for three years. He made a forced parachute jump at Lakehurst in that year and became a member of the Caterpillar Club. Assigned to the parachute school at NAS Lakehurst, NJ, Lieutenant James Roland Kyle Jr #2950 was killed when his parachute failed to open after bailing out of a disabled aircraft.

Both Lieut. Kyle and Schildhauer, entered the parachute school at Lakehurst, N.J., in order to familiarise themselves with the safety devices. On May 22, 1925, the biplane ?? Jenny ?? in which they made the ascent being defective, engine trouble developed, the plane refused to rise above 500 feet and was swopping to the ground, when 200 feet up, the instructor signalled the aviators to jump. Lt Kyle's parachute failed to open, and he was instantly killed May 22, 1925. His body was brought to Lynchburg and interned in Spring Hill cemetery.

Both Kyle and Schildhauer were on the wings of the plane ready to make parachute jumps in this flight.

As Schildhauer, was already going to make a parachute jump when he had to use a parachute (because the motor of his aircraft was failing) , it was decided later to remove his name from the Official Caterpillar list.


However, I wonder (as Lt James Roland Kyle, jr. was killed in this incident) the type, serial (and even pilot of the aircraft they were using could be identified?)

Many Thanks

Paul