Canada. A Contemporary Caterpillar Club Lapel Pin

Footnote: These pins were awarded (on request) from parachute companies to pilots who successfully bailed out of airplanes. It was called "hitting the silk". Parachutes were made of silk, caterpillars make silk, and most of the pins were shaped like caterpillars. The Caterpillar Club is an informal association of people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft. After authentication by the parachute maker, applicants receive a membership certificate and a distinctive lapel pin. It should be absolutely clear that the nationality of the person saving his life by parachute and ownership of the aircraft are not factors in determining qualification for membership. Anybody who has saved his life by using a parachute after bailing out of a disabled aircraft is eligible. The requirement that the aircraft is disabled naturally excludes parachuting enthusiasts in the normal course of a recreational jump.