US Marines Parachute incidents China 1927 to 1928

[Leendert]

Stig,
Some info about USMC air units in China (1920s) on p. 54 of following: https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Pu...00316800_2.pdf

Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Sorry Leendert

I can't get that site to work.
Seems I can reach the main home page, but as soon as I try to find anything
inside, it reacts by not wanting to connect anywhere.
No idea why

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Basically: USMC air assets in China in late 1920s were VF-3M with 8 x FB-1 and a newly organized observation squadron VO-5M with 6 x O2B-1.

Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks again

I remembered I had William Larkin's books and according to him the Expeditionary Force in China was
VF-3M which changed name to VF-10M on 1 July 1927, had 9 x FB-1 (Sep 1927)
VO-10M no previous designation listed, had 6 O2B-1 and 6 OL-6 (Sep 1927)

Looking back in the USMC section (Feb 1926), he lists only four units.
First Aviation Group
Second Aviation Group
Observation Squadron Two
Scouting Squadron One

I cannot see he lists any VO-5M at all.
Was this a very temporary designation which existed for a very short time before becoming VO-10M?

Finally, the Curtiss which crashed at Pensacola still has no unit.
Larkin does not list Pensacola as USMC base at all....

Cheers
Stig

[twocee]

Stig,

Fry's FB-1 is shown as assigned to Aircraft Squadrons, Third Marine Brigade, Camp McMurray, Hsin-Ho, China.

Marine pilot training was conducted at Pensacola and so Loomis's aircraft was assigned to the Naval Air Station there. There were no separate Marine training units.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks George

For June 1928 Larkins says both VF-10M and VO-10M belonged to the Third
Brigade, China so that fits pretty well

Makes sense the USMC used Navy training facilities, thanks for that

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Confusion comes from redesignation of newly formed VO-5M (personnel from Guam, planes from San Diego) to VO-10M by late 1927.

Regards,
Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Leendert

Knowledge 0 - guesses 1
That is the problem with the book, it does not give a complete picture, but my
guess was pretty OK...

Cheers
Stig

[paulmcmillan]

Moore newspaper report

Plane Crashes During Tientsin Marines' Review: U. S. Aviator Falls Into Water But Escapes Injury
The China Press (1925-1938); May 4, 1928;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chinese Newspapers Collection
pg. 16

Plane Crashes During Tientsin Marines' Review
U. S. Aviator Falls Into Water But Escapes Injury
Tientsin .—an airplane collapsed and fell during an exhibition of stunt flying, and Capt. Moore, the aviator, escaped by jumping with parachute, at the review given by the U. S. Marines at the Race Course, before representatives of the American, British, French and Chinese forces in Tientsin and a large number of civilians and service men. The right wings of the plane fell off during the course of a series of somersaults. The machine had previously given a nose dive and rose at terrific speed, and the
air resistance was apparently too strong, thus whipping of the wings. The plane rose into the air for a few seconds
and dropped straight to the earth. The accident happened at less than eight hundred feet from the ground

CROWD THRILLED
The escape, of Capt. Moore thrilled the assembled crowd. When the machine started on its dive, he sprang off,
amidst the cheers of the spectators. The airplane struck the earth on the race truck at the opposite side of
the course from the stands.
The descent of Capt. Moore was watched with bated breath. The wind carried him past the stands, and he fell info
the water. Many people run forward as he fell, and willing hands assisted him out of the moat. He was smiling, none
the worse for his thrilling experience.
Capt. Moore was helped into a marine auto, and when he reached the stands the
crowd gave him a rousing welcome. Many surrounded him and congratulated him on
his narrow escape. After taking some light refreshments, he departed for a change
of clothing. All sorts of questions were fired at Capt. Moore by those who crowded
around him. Many shook his hand and congratulated him, while cameras clicked.
The aviator's first words was to say that he was "all right," in reply to inquiries
by his helpers. According to the aviator the wings fell off because the
plane was going at too great a speed when it turned over on its side.

AVIATOR SCARED
"I was almost scared to death!" he laughingly said, when questioned as to
how he felt when the machine began to fall. His action was quick, for not
more than a few seconds elapsed from the time the wings broke until he jumped off.
Capt. Moore did not seem to be be much excited by his experience.
When one lady exclaimed, "You are our hero!" he burst out laughing and ran away.
Among the feats the aviator was doing before his plane crashed were turning
several somersaults in rapid succession, diving down at a great speed and
rising up almost perpendicularly, dropping on one side. When the wings fell off,
the spectators at first thought that it was a new stunt to fly with one set
of wings

MACHINE A WRECK
The machine was a mass of wreckage. The engine was underneath, with
canvas, steel and wood on top. Souvenirs and photographs were
taken by the crows that swarmed around. The two remaing wings were
crumpled up. There were wires all over, and the propellar was
unrecognisable. It is said that the plane is practically
worthless" N. C. Star"

[paulmcmillan]

Based on this - I believe that this is indeed Moore's plane but date is very wrong https://eugenedownes.tripod.com/days...arly_aviation/