I. Preparing for a Physiological Air War: Survey No. 1 by the Committee on Aviation Medicine of Aero Medical Research Facilities Available in America (12 Nov – 1 Dec 1940)
Authors: Dean Jay B. 
Published: November 2023

At its first meeting, 23 Oct 1940, the Committee on Aviation Medicine (CAM) was tasked with making “…a survey of the present status of the medical and physiological problems pertaining to aviation…[and to] advise regarding the correlation and coordination of such research undertakings as are going forward in various government labs and flying fields, as well as in civilian labs and commercial aviation units. In addition the Committee should suggest the inauguration and development of new studies and investigative projects pertaining to the biological aspects of aviation and necessary to the national defense.” The CAM was comprised of Dr. E.F. DuBois, CAM Chairman (Cornell U) and members Drs. C.K. Drinker (Harvard U), J.F. Fulton (Yale U), W.R. Miles (Yale U) and E.M. Landis (U Va). The CAM and two USN liaison officers (Cdr. J.R. Poppen, Capt. L.E. Griffis) traveled by air from Washington D.C. to eight sites during 12 Nov – 1 Dec 1940: Langley Field; Norfolk Naval Air Base; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the Aircraft Carriers Wasp & Ranger; the Pensacola Naval Air Station and School of Aviation Medicine; San Diego Naval Air Base, and the Carrier Saratoga; Wright Field, Aero Medical Research Unit, Dayton; and the Banting Institute and Eglinton Labs, Toronto, Canada. The CAM's report to the National Research Council (NAS Archives: CAM Bulletin, pp. 52–96) made 20 recommendations to improve preparedness for a high‐altitude, high‐speed air war. They recognized that to date, aero medical research had lagged far behind development of aircraft. The limiting factor in flight operations was the pilot's physiology. Larger and better labs were needed at Wright Field, Randolph Field, Pensacola and Washington. Aero medical research should be expedited in civilian labs through immediate federal funding. Research projects the CAM deemed of urgent importance included: development of a suitable O2 breathing apparatus and pressurized aircraft cabins, with more studies in altitude chambers and planes at high‐altitude; mitigation strategies for relief from flyer's aeroembolism and black‐out from G‐forces during acceleration; effects of anoxemia on production of cerebral edema and increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure; effects of protracted breathing of 100% O2; psychological tests; fatigue; critical assessment of the Schneider test as a predictor of human efficiency; usefulness of the EEG in aviation medicine; studies of visual problems; problems of adequate clothing, particularly electrically‐heated clothing; and general studies of recreational and rest facilities at air stations. By 1942, the CAM had expanded into 7 subcommittees to oversee America's growing aero medical research program: Advisory Commission A (on the west coast near aircraft factories) to the CAM in Washington, Acceleration, Oxygen & Anoxia, Decompression Sickness, Visual Problems, Clothing, and Motion Sickness. Other general fields included adrenal physiology, the crash project, explosive decompression and pressure‐cabin aircraft, flying fatigue, injury to flying personnel by anti‐aircraft blasts, first aid aloft, rehabilitation program, and problem of securing information from operation squadrons.Support or Funding InformationUSF