McFarland, Irene (fl. 1925)

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McFarland, Irene (fl. 1925)

American aviator. Flourished c. 1925.

The 1st woman to save her own life with a parachute, jumped from her plane in Cincinnati, Ohio, to test a self-opening parachute which jammed, then made safe landing with a second, standard army parachute (June 28, 1925); as a result, became the 1st woman member of the Caterpillar Club.