Drogue parachute : Warrant Officer J E Payne RAAF, 615 Squadron RAF

Place Asia: Burma
Accession Number REL32642
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Canvas, Metal, Silk, String
Maker Irvin Air Chute Company
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made c 1939-1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

White silk drogue or pilot parachute, which when deployed first, generates the necessary drag to release a larger main parachute. It has an umbrella-like design with four metalic arms on the inside of the chute which interlock at its apex and allow it to collapse when furled. The arms are held within cotton-canvas seams on the inside of the chute with four strings extending from the arms to attach the drogue to the main chute. The maker's logo, which consists of a parchute with the word 'IRVIN' written across it, is printed on the outside of the parachute alongside the maker's details which read: 'IRVIN AIR-CHUTE / MANUFACTURED BY / Irving Air Chute of Great Britain Ltd / LETCHWORTH, HERTS, / ENGLAND. / Mfg No. Date'.

History / Summary

Silk drogue parachute used by Flight Sergeant John Ennis Payne when bailing out of his Spitfire. Payne was shot down by a Japanese fighter on 17 June 1944 behind enemy lines in Burma. He bailed out at low altitude, but was saved when his parachute caught in a tree. He was befriended by local Naga tribesmen, who assisted him in returning to Allied lines; a walk consisting of three days and four nights. The tribesmen also recovered the drogue parachute and presented it to Payne. Payne and his twin brother Alfred, both served with 615 Squadron, attacking Japanese communications in West and South Burma. The twins were born in Melbourne in August 1922 and both enlisted in November 1941. Prior to his service John Payne worked as a clerk for the Army Finance Department. He was discharged from service on 22 October 1948 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.