What is the Caterpillar Club? – SEE SAW Comics, Webcomics from the Sequential Artists Workshop

What is the Caterpillar Club?

Panel 1: What is the Caterpillar Club? The Caterpillar Club was founded in 1922 by the Irvin Air Chute Company. To join the club one’s life had to have been saved by an Irvin Parachute. The illustration that accompanies the text is a Caterpillar Club lapel pin. Panel 2: Just using a parachute is not enough to get you into the club. You have to leave a damaged aircraft. A recreational jump out of an airplane does not count. The illustration shows an exploding B-17 bomber and a single figure parachuting to safety. Panel 3: World War II airmen and others who bailed out of shot-down aircraft were eligible to become members of the Caterpillar Club. To the right of the text there is a picture of an airman descending under an open parachute. Panel 4: Why Caterpillars? Caterpillars make silk. Irvin’s parachutes were made of silk. For more see: Into the Silk: True Stories of the Caterpillar Club by Ian Mackersey (1956) The illustration shows the spine and cover of the Mackersey’s book, Into the Silk. This cartoon is part of a series called Falling. It is written and drawn by Jim Hamilton who can be found on Instagram at Green Harbor Publications (all one word, greenharborpublications).

Published On: January 23, 2025

How likely is it to survive a 1,000-foot fall?

"SAW presents a poetry comics workshop: Place with Mita Mahato, Friday March 7th, 7-8pm ET, online, free!"

What is the ten-story rule?

Jim, are you a skydiver?

"SAW presents a free online comics workshop: Childhood Obsessions with K. Woodman-Maynard. Friday, February 28, 7-8pm ET, all levels welcome!"

What do long-fall incidents have in common?

The terror of falling is not the earth rushing up, smiling and effusive, to embrace you like an old friend you had hoped never to see again.

"Sequential Artists Workshop presents: Living your Best Lie, a free workshop with November Garcia, Friday, Feb 21, 7pm EST via Zoom"

Will a mouse survive a one-story fall?

Are these miracles?

"SAW Free Friday Night Comics Workshop: Make a friendship zine with Shay Mirk! @mirkdrop Friday February 14, 4pm PST / 7pm EST"

Is water a good thing to fall into?

Why not enjoy the view?

"Making Comics during Fascism with Nicole Georges, Feb 7 @ 7pm EST on Zoom. Always free, all are welcome, SAW free Friday Night Comics Workshop"

Would someone die from a nine-story fall onto cement?

How long does it take to fall five hundred feet and how fast will I be going? This is a single-panel cartoon that describes “Speed, Distance, and Time of Fall for an Average-Sized Adult in a Stable Freefall Position.” There are three labeled axes on this graph. On the left is a vertical axis showing time in seconds ranging from the top at zero seconds to the bottom at twelve seconds. A horizontal axis at the bottom of the graph covers approximate speed in miles per hour from zero to 120 miles per hour. On the right, the vertical axis shows distance in feet fallen. It ranges from zero feet at the top, to 1,483 feet at the bottom. A curved arrow at the upper left starts at zero seconds and zero speed. The arrow arcs to the lower right-hand corner where the speed is 120 miles per hour and 1,483 feet fallen. About halfway along the arrow a person in a t-shirt and dark pants falls with their hands up and a distressed expression on their face. A series of statements numbered one to three appear inside the graph. They read: 1. After about six seconds you will have fallen 500 feet. 2. You will be falling at about 95 miles per hour. 3. Good news! After twelve seconds your speed will no longer increase. This is called reaching ‘terminal velocity.’ This cartoon is part of a series called Falling. It is written and drawn by Jim Hamilton who can be found on Instagram at Green Harbor Publications (all one word, greenharborpublications).

"Reframing Disability & Reclaiming Agency with Nicky! Jan 31 @ 7pm EST"

If your plane blew up and you were falling in mid-air, could you really see anything?

Did you really appear on TV?

"Draw Demon Lover Comics with Maggie Umber, 7pm 1/24"

What is the Caterpillar Club?

"Ding! Achievement unlocked! You made a journal comic! Jamar Nicholas, award-winning graphic novelist, will show you how to create your own comic about personal victories, Jan 17, 7pm EST / 4 CST"

What is an “unbounce” anniversary?

"Reflection in Motion! SAW presents a free comics workshop with Abby Kacen! Jan 10th at 7pm EST (virtual)"

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to fall a long way? And I mean a really long way.

"Every Name Has a Story: comics workshop with Cara Bean, Friday, January 3rd, 2025. Hosted by SAW"

"Emo Comics with E. Haidle: A free SAW comics workshop. December 27 - 4pm PST / 7pm EST”

"SAW presents: Compassionate Character Creation with Lillie J. Harris! Dec 20th 7pm EST"

"SAW Presents: A Free Friday Night Comics Workshop with Nicole Georges. Friday Dec 13 @ 7pm EST on Zoom. Online, free, all are welcome!"

"SAW Presents: Draw Your Dream Job! with Maya Scarpa & Bee Lockwood. Friday, December 6 @ 7 pm EST, a free comic workshop!"

"Gutters as a Character on a Page! CCA/SAW workshop by Cynta Camilia, Friday Nov 29 7pm EST. No experience necessary! Free virtual comic workshop for all ages!"

"SAW Friday Night Drawing Club presents... Time Travel Comics with Josh Rosen! Free online Workshop! Friday Nov 22nd @ 7pm EST" A cartoon of Josh looks stressed and says, "By god! Can drawing be used to transcend time itself?!"

"Let's draw Your Best Birthday! with E. Joy Mehr! 7pm EST Friday Nov 15 2024, free, online, all are welcome. In conjunction with the Non-Fiction Comics Festival!"

"Online comics workshop! Nightmare Fuel with Radillustrates. Fri Nov 8 7pm EST, Free, presented by SAW"

"Composing Single Page Comics with Lawrence Lindell, presented by SAW! 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific, November 1, 2024"

"SAW Presents: Wormhole Comics with Cathy Mayer, a free online workshop. 7pm ET Friday October 25th"

A sail boat at night.

"SAW presents: Inner Character Comics with Sacha Mardou, author of Past Tense. A free online comics workshop, Friday Oct 18, 2024, 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific, @sawcomics @mardou_draws"

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.