This is interesting....
Mrs. Putnam - Prescott Evening Courier; Jul 13, 1932
"This time I had to sit on a hard parachute pack all the way. I didn't wear a parachute on the ocean flight because I decided that even if I needed it, it wouldn't do me any good."
Thoughts?
I don't understand this quote, it appears to be contradictory. This was after her Atlantic crossing so the first part says she did take a parachute with her on that crossing, sitting on it, but the second part appears to deny it. Or is she saying that she sat on a seat type of chute, the same kind we see in the photo taken in Darwin, but did not wear the harness snapped around her? Of course in the latter case she could always put the harness on and jump if needed. Did she have a life raft with her on that flight? If she didn't then she might as well have gone down with the plane.
gl
It does seem contradictory. I think it means during the first flight she had no parachute at all (neither sitting or wearing), and on the second flight flight she sat on the parachute (ready to wear), even though she felt it would do no good over the ocean.
But, that is not what I found interesting.
What I found interesting was her opinion towards a parachute over the ocean, regardless. It is pretty clear that she felt a parachute over the ocean wouldn't do much good.
Here's another quote from her.
New York Times; Jul 14, 1932"It probably wouldn't have done me any good anyhow over the ocean."
Which begs the question about the controversy at Darwin, did she have a parachute delivered specifically for the flight over the ocean, when she clearly had feelings indicating the opposite, that it would do no good? Or, would it make more sense for them to be shipped back since she felt that her use for them over the land was obviously no longer needed?
The implication being that they would be good over land, but not over the ocean.
Personally, I could see that as a valid argument too. Where parachuting into the ocean would do no good. Unless of course a nearby ship knew exactly where you were or you had nearby rescue gear avaliable. And, conversely where having a parachute over land would do a lot of good. Whereas, not wanting to make a crash landing over unknow terrain, forests, etc, then bailing out with chute, somewhat nearby your plane, with potential rescue gear nearby.
Confusing...