Originally Posted by
Dan Gerous
I'm sure I read somewhere ages ago that MB award an additional silver/gold Caterpillar pin to attach to a tie, after any subsequent ejections.
Dan, you're confusing two different (but interlinked) clubs. The Martin Baker Tie is awarded to anyone successfully using a Martin Baker ejection seat; the Caterpillar Club pins are (and were) awarded to anyone who saved their life by unplanned use of an Irvin (later, Airborne Systems, now IrvinGQ) parachute, or similarly a Switlik or Pioneer parachute (the latter two companies run, or in the case of Pioneer - now dissolved - ran, their own separate clubs).
Of note, all Martin Baker seats (incl. the Mk 14 NACES, fitted to the F/A-18 & T-45 but not, in the context of this post, the Collins-manufactured and technically unconnected ACES II fitted to the F-15, F-16, A-10 etc.) used Irvin, or currently use IrvinGQ, parachutes so all members of the M-B Tie Club are theoretically also members of the Irvin/IrvinGQ Caterpillar Club.
Irvin (and associated Airborne Systems/Irvin GQ) Caterpillar Club pin brooches were all originally gold (later gold-anodized, and latterly gold-coloured metal) with red eyes (originally supposedly rubies, then garnets, later red glass and now red-enamelled); with the name of the recipient stamped on the rear. Some of the gold finishes do wear under heavy polishing, giving a silver appearance. Switlik pin brooches are white metal (so silver in colour), with silver raised 'Caterpillar Club' wording picked out by a background of black enamel.
The ACES II originally used the C-9 canopy and has latterly (from c.2017) utilised the GR7000 canopy; neither of which are manufactured by IrvinGQ. So whilst users of the ACES II are entitled to membership of the Grasshopper Club, they do not become members of the Martin Baker Tie Club or the Caterpillar Club.