Harry Wayne Schmoll

1932–1999 · Biographical and career research profile

15. Claim-by-Claim Evidence Assessment

ClaimAssessment
Born August 4, 1932Well supported. Multiple secondary records converge.
Died February 27, 1999Well supported.
Full name Harry Wayne SchmollProbable. “Harry W.” is independently documented; “Wayne” is supported by secondary biographical and genealogical material.
Born in ColoradoModerate. Secondary genealogical evidence only.
Parents Louis “Wayne” Schmoll and Nancy Belle NichollModerate / provisional. Secondary genealogical evidence only.
Died or lived in Fort Smith, ArkansasModerate–High association; exact death location still should be confirmed from vital records.
Active in sport parachuting in 1960High. Primary period club directory.
Head or president of Los Angeles Sky DiversNot established. He was the published club contact.
Club organizer or representativeStrong inference.
Parachute riggerStrongly supported by documented equipment work and the contemporaneous reference to an FAA “license.”
FAA-certificated parachute riggerStrong inference; exact certificate record still needed.
Master Parachute RiggerNot established. No certificate grade located.
Worked with Para-SystemsHigh. Contemporary account explicitly says “of Para-Systems.”
Founded or owned Para-SystemsNot established.
Built Rod Pack’s 1965 special harnessHigh. Contemporary account explicitly credits him.
Harness accepted loads from either sideHigh.
Harness used specially prominent D-ringsHigh.
Harness incorporated a backup cameraman connectionHigh.
Performed skydiving stunt work in Beach Blanket BingoModerate. Specific IMDb attribution, but no primary studio documentation yet located.
Made more than 2,000 jumpsReported but unverified.
Worked on Stanley Aviation’s YANKEE systemReported, plausible, unverified.
Was an early YANKEE human test subjectReported, plausible, unverified.
Was the first YANKEE live human extraction subjectHistorically significant but presently unverified.
Worked with Universal Propulsion into the late 1990sReported but unverified personally.
Received SAFE Meritorious Service Award in 1988High. Officially verified.
SAFE award honored lifetime parachute/safety contributionsNot supported by the award definition. SAFE describes the award as recognition of a recent survival contribution involving courage or bravery.
SAFE award was for the YANKEE programUnknown. No evidence located.
Career artifacts are in Smithsonian collectionsUnverified research lead.