The Caterpillar Club and Goldfish Club

[Bombardier]

I have been reading a little about two WW2 clubs.

The Caterpillar Club - for aircrew that bailed out using parachutes

The Goldfish Club - for aircrew bailing out into water

I have read some bits and pieces and it appears that the caterpillar badge awarded would have red eyes if the aircraft was on fire at the time of bailing out? is this right and if so what colour were the eyes on other badges?

Any useful information or links would be appreciated.

 

[GunBunnyInaMAB]

Wow... first I ever heard about it.

 

[Emblemhunter]

Caterpillar Club

Hey Bombardier, here's a good site you may want to post this question on if you haven't seen it,
ArmyAirForces.com
They have a vast assortment of knowledgable people there.sal;

 

[Bombardier]

thanks mate.
Bunny I only found out about this recently muself and I had the same reaction

 

[John A Silkstone]

Bombardier, I've written to the Caterpiller secretary and awaiting his reply.

Silky

 

[Bombardier]

Thanks John look forward to his reply also

 

[John A Silkstone]

Hi Bombardier and all members,

At long last I received a reply from the secretary of the Caterpillar Club Mr. Terry Stacey. He apologised for the long delay in answering my letter, but I got a reply and for that I’m thankful.

Terry informed me that as far as he is aware, the eyes on the badge are the same and that the badges were awarded by the Irving Parachute Company to all necessary jumpers from a stricken plane. He also informed me that their numbers are dwindling as the years pass by. He kindly sent me a copy of their latest News Letter, which tells about the clubs visit to war grave cemeteries across Europe, one of them being at Foling Bottal Germany, which will be well known by a lot of members to our site.

They are holding their annual Re-union and Dinner in Blackpool on the 25th March 2011.

To their members that passed away this year and those who have already gone before, I would like to say, Rest in Piece, brothers and sister and thank you for doing what you did in defending this country in its hour of need.

Silky

 

[Bombardier]

Nice work Silky thank you

 

[Michigan's Own]

Caterpillar Club

Sirs, I am the director of Michigan's Own, Inc. Military & Space Museum located in Frankenmuth, Michigan. We feature uniform exhibits of Michigan veteran's of our nation's seven foreign wars and the Space Program. We have close to two hundred World War Two uniform exhibits in our collections. We have twelve on display at all times with changes every three months. In our Michigan Medal of Honor gallery we also have nine (9) recipients uniforms and thirteen WWII Medals (of thirty actual Medals of Honor on display at all times) which is the largest collection of Medals from the Civil War to the Vietnam War, on display in the United States.

My reason for writing, we have the uniforms and decorations of three Michigan Airmen that received the Caterpiller pin and all three pins are in the lazy S shape with the what appears to be the head facing right when on the uniform and all are black enamel with the enamel forming the words "CATERPILLER CLUB". In very tiny letters on the back there are four lines. Top line looks like "macc", second line "-cc-", third line "N.Y.", fourth line " are seven or eight initials that are indicipherable". All three pins are discolored on the back in black and silver and the lettering is smashed. All three of these men bailed out over France or Germany. I am not familiar with the pin you show though I have seen it before. I just can't remember where or what the story on it was.

Sincerely,
Stan Bozich, Director/Curator
Michigan's Own, Inc. 1250 Weiss St, Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734
989-652-8005 e-mail - michown@ejourney,co web site - michigansmilitary museum.com

 

[christine]

gold caterpillar badge

dear sir i think i have a gold caterpillar badge it has the name sgt p hinchcliffe on the back and is 20 centermetres long with red eyes can you give me any information on it and what is its value