Interviewer
Jim Norgaard
Files
Description
Virgil Derry discusses his early involvement with parachuting and testing equipment later used by smokejumpers. He describes the experimental jumps he made with his brother, Frank Derry, in 1939 for Eagle Parachute Company to determine the feasibility of dropping smokejumpers on fires. Derry talks about how he and his brother developed equipment and techniques that were later adopted by the early smokejumper program during these jumps. He also recalls his previous experience parachuting at county fairs and hang gliding.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Smokejumpers Biography; Smokejumping History; Smokejumpers Training of; Smokejumping Equipment and supplies
Original Date
7-20-1984
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Collection, OH 133, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use of this item. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH_133_027
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (48 min.) : analog + 1 transcript (18 p. : 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
48 minutes
Local Filename
OH_133_027.mp3; OH_133_027.pdf
Citation
OH_133_027Derry, Virgil, "Virgil Derry Interview, July 20, 1984" (1984). Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Project. OH_133_027.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/smokejumpers/3