WW2 WW2 Irvin Parachute Company gold caterpillar club award POW 1944
A rare original 'Irvin Parachute Company wartime award' in the form of a small gold caterpillar, the eyes set with red rubies, the reverse inscribed F/O J.F. Acquier. Very good condition, retaining original pin fittings.
Length 20mm.
The 'Gold Caterpillar Club Award' was initiated in the early 1920s by 'Leslie Irvin' of the Irvin Parachute Company to be awarded to anyone whose life was actually saved by the use of one of their parachutes.
Flying Officer J.F. Acquier was commissioned into the RAF in 1943. He was posted to 434 (Bluenose) Squadron of the RCAF, which operated the Handley Page Halifax bomber. On the night of the 28/29th January 1944 he was briefed for operations to Berlin. His Captain Squadron Leader J.E. Hockey lifted his aircraft from the runway of RAF Station Croft at 23.49hrs. Flying at 21,000 feet over Berlin his Halifax was attached by a night fighter and he was ordered to bale out, thus securing his place in the Irvin caterpillar club. He was quickly taken 'Prisoner of War' and was held at the famous Stalag Luft 3, which only months before was the location of the Great Escape.
Code: 55823