Information On Possible Skydiving Fatality

[T10PCM1 0]

I just found this great site and have to ask how to
find information about a person I jumped with many
years ago.

One of my friends I had jumped with back in the
late 1960's, early 70's told me about the death of
another man who jumped at the DZ in NC.

This man later got a job at one of the parachute
companies ( Chicago area I think? ) and was
testing equipment when he was killed on a jump.
I really don'y know if this is true or not, but would
like to know for sure.

I checked with USPA some time back and they don't
have any lists to go back and check.

The man I am speaking of is a William H. ( Bill )
Womble II - his license in 1971 was D-2864.
Bill was known for his work with the Delta Parawing,
which he jumped all the time.

Any information as to how I can get any information
on this would be most helpful.

Thanks,

T10PCM1

NC

[slotperfect 7]

Who manufactured the Delta Parawing?

Arrive Safely

John

[BillyVance 34]

A little search found this: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9515/skydivin.htm

scroll down and you'll see a picture of what looks like a Paradactyl, but they call it a Irvin Delta 2 Parawing.

Other than that, I got nothing.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[T10PCM1 0]

Wow, what I've forgotten through the years.
I remember several parachute companies that were
around then, here they are.

Midwest, or Para-gear, something like that,
The Chute Shop
McElfish-(sp) similar.

I have a few USPA magazines from the early 70's
somewhere, remember several companies that
advertised in them.

Will see if I can locate them and see if anything
"jumps" to my mind.

[T10PCM1 0]

Two companies manufactored the Parawing that I
located, they are.

Pioneer Aerospace
Irvin Industries

[piper17 1]

Bill Womble was killed in CT while acting as a tandem master in the 80s. It was not a test jump. He was not employed by a parachute company at the time although he had worked for Pioneer Parachute company a number of years earlier. He dropped out of jumping for a number of years and got back into it a couple of years before his death.

"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition"...Rudyard Kipling

[T10PCM1 0]

Jim,
Although I had been told of this I still did not know
for sure, until you verified it.

I had not seen Bill since the early 70's when I was in
service. I had heard of his job with a parachute
company and knew he moved from NC.

Can't say enough about Bill and what a great guy
and safe jumper he was.

I do thank you for the information as it has now
brought some closure to this story.

I will pass this to the one who told me of his death
and let him see this site.

My best to you and all the other jumpers out there.

Stay safe.

Blue Skies

Richard C. Harper
NC