08 Jul 1942, Wed The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts)
Four women, including a state Representative and her pilot daughter, and three doctors, attended the opening candidates’ class for the formation of a parachute corps within the Civil Air Patrol in New England last evening at the Norwood Airport.
The new corps will include doctors, nurses, skilled woodsmen, mechanics and forest fire fighters, according to United States Regional Director Joseph M. Loughlin of the 1st Civilian Defense Area.
Walter G. Murphy, aid to Regional Wing Commander Maj. Robert S. Fogg of the Civil Air Patrol, conducted tonight’s class to give preliminary instructions on the purposes of the new parachute corps and the use of ’chutes.
Already 25 doctors, 30 nurses and nurses’ aids have enrolled, and inquiries are flooding the C. A. P. headquarters, Murphy said.
In last night’s candidates, class were State Representative Mrs. Leslie B. Cutler, a student flyer ; her daughter, Ann Cutler, 22, a licensed pilot, both of Needham: Lydia Rotch of Middleboro, Laura Bryant of Boston, Dr. Sumner C. Andrews of Boston, Dr. Frank F. Hennessey of Newton and Dr. Wilfred L. McKenzie of Winchester.
The parachute corps will include not more than 350 men and women in the designated professions, Murphy said.
One of the new developments which will assist the medical units serving isolated sections of the paper parachutes. The paper ’chutes cost about 50 cents while the silk or nylon ‘chutes cost $360. The paper ’chutes will be used to send medical supply packages, weighing up to 50 pounds, down to isolated casualties.