Antedating of "Skydiving" and "Skydiver"

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 11:50:25 -0500, Fred Shapiro <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
wrote:

>skydiving (OED 1959)
>
>1957 _L.A. Times_ 11 Aug. J10 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)  Abroad,
>skydiving involves a free fall during which the jumper is judged on style.

1956 (Elyria, Ohio) Chronicle Telegram 28 July 8/7 The American skydiving
team made a reconnaisance tour of Tushino Airport in Moscow Thursday to
prepare for the test.

>skydiver (OED 1961)
>
>1957 _L.A. Times_ 11 Aug. J10 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)  (heading)
>Rah! Rah! Skydivers.

1956 (Elyria, Ohio) Chronicle Telegram 28 July 8/7 Eight American
skydivers, including an Elryia auto mechanic, are expected to give a good
showing Sunday as they challenge Russian superiority in the
recently-developed sport of parachute jumping.


(These are non-bogus Chronicle Telegram cites from Newspaperarchive.)


--Ben Zimmer