If I ever write my book on this…

The Irvin/Irving stuff will get a brief mention

You have to put in context.

After WW1 only the US Army Air Corps Engineering Divisionn (under Major Hoffman at Dayton Ohio) were interested in Parachute technology (the war was over why bother). They soon worked out that free-fall parachutes would be the only option.

Up to then all parachutes were of the “static” variety. i.e on attached to aircraft or balloon. These had a couple of restrictions, in as much that

a) parachute lines could get caught up in aircraft or would not ‘break free’ (I read one report of a German pilot who jumped from an aircraft over Italy during WW1 who ‘swung into the propeller’ when his line would not break free.

b) the US Army Air Corps also decided the static variety was a no-no when Canadian RFC pilot Lt Robert Allen Caldwell fell six hundred feet to his death at Dayton, Ohio, on June 11, 1919 using a Guardian Angel parachute when his static line was severed by hitting the aircraft before it could pull out the parachute from the aircraft. He was demonstrating the parachute to US Army Air Corps at the time.

c) Lt Robert Allen Caldwell’s unfortunate death (in front of probably the worlds most expert authorities on parachutes) also answered the long held question that a falling man did ‘not pass out’ after jumping as witnesses could see his fruitless actions in trying to save himself. Free-Fall Manually operated ones were the only option.

Irvin was employed at Dayton at the time (I am unsure of his role) but I believe as a “consultant” rather than enlisted. He was after all one of the leading experts at the time.

The US Army Air Corps, how had the type of parachute they wanted, but not all the technical detail. Size, type of material number of canopy sections, type of lines etc etc. Over the next couple of years they perfected this design (after testing) and Irvin did make the first test.

When this was finished the Army Air Corps issued the specification for “US Standard Parachutes” and an order – But of course no manufacturer existed.

So Irvin rushed of the Buffalo New York to start his factory and business and find investors and patents etc. I expect checking his name on the Incorporation documents was the least of his problems.

Floyd Smith also started his Business in Chicago. But I think he was very much playing catch-up. He was still in the US Army Air Corps at the time. So I assume had to “leave”. That’s why I think Irvin not enlisted, he just ‘left’ because he could.

As he was first out of starting blocks that’s why most Parachutes since then are of the “Irvin Type” – See advert

Smith/Irvin would be involved in patents disputes but that is another story