Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-15
Famed Collier Trophy
awarded Air|ines and
B Medical Researchers
Physicians Win Proise for
Making High Altitude
Flying Safer
Nv JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.

By JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.
American air transport lines
which flew for a year and a half
without death or serious injury to
any person and their medical re-
searchers, who have made flying
safer and more comfortable by
studying such phenomena as the
'boiling" of the blood in mans
veins at extreme attitudes, were
honorded today by the award of
the famous Collier Trophy, avia-
lions highest civil award.
Three physicians, one an Army
Air Corps flight surgeon, were
named specifically in the citation
for their work in the fields of Oxy-
gen deprivation and other effects of
high altitude on the human body.
The award, made annually for
the greatest achievement in avia-
tion, the value of which has been
demonstrated by actual use during
the preceding year. was awarded
for 1889 with the following citation
ITO the airlines of the United
States for their outstanding record
for safety in air travel during 1889,
with especial recognition of Doctors
Walter M. Boothby and w. RAN
dolph Lovelace, I'd, of the Mayo
Foundation for Medical Research
and Education, and to Capt. Harry
G. Armstrong of the United States
Medical Corps, for contribution to
This safety record by their work in
the field of aviation medicine gen.
orally and pilot fatigue in par
kicular."
Roosevelt to Make Presentation.
The trophy will be presented by
President Roosevelt next month at
the White House.
The medical research, which has
gone into new and unexpected hui
man reactions to mans invasion
of space, has had to deal with the
effects of insufficient oxygen on
flying personnel keyed up constant
" to emergency pitch and with
fatigue resulting from constant con-
centration on the complex mechan-
SIN Of the modern airliner and the
problems of navigation, radio COM
munications and instrument flying.
They found that cases of the
bends" which afflict deep-sea div
Frs and caisson workers released
too suddenly from great pressures,
hlso affect pilots who fly to extreme
attitudes without adequate protec-
lion.
While the three doctors were
named specifically for their general
medical work in the field of flight
reactions, it is understood that the
award was based particularly on
their work in determining the eff
fleets of high altitude on the brain,
nerves. blood and ref1exes of per-
sphere. The results Of their studies
are considered of inestimable value
for military purposes, since bonn
parchment and pursuit missions are
being flown at constantly increas-
Ing attitudes and men are fighting
today in air too thin to support
human life. The development of
The "strato-clipper" and "strato-
liner" type OF air transport aircraft
also Is taking airline passengers
INTO the beginning Of the substrato-
sphere.
Muscular Cooperation Suffers.
It has been found that those who
ny without artificial aids to alti-
dudes of more than miles begin
30 lose muscular coordination be-
cause of oxygen deprivation and
that complete Inconsistencies re-
suits from ascent much beyond
20 900 feet for even the pilot least
susceptible to anoxemia, or lack of
oxygen. Modern combat pilots are
flying and fighting at attitudes of
900 feet and even air transport
planes now are beginning to pass
the 20,000-foot level in regular oper-
htions
The three physicians conducted
tests in an altitude chamber in
which high altitude conditions could
be simulated. One airline pilot was
'taken up" to simulated altitude
Of $4,000 feet, wearing an oxygen
mask, and then was told to remove
The mask, to go through the mo-
lions of opening a cockpit escape
hatch and jumping. He lost con-
BciouSness in the few seconds it
would have taken him to Jump and
pull the rip cord Of his parachute
AS result, the three physicians
Designed a small oxygen flask to
he carried in a pocket and a new
type of mask which could be dis
connected instantly from the regu-
lar airplane oxygen supply system
and connected with the pocket flask
to supply the pilot with oxygen dur
Ing his plunge into thicker air. The
mask even contains microphone
to enable the pilot to maintain
radio communications up to the
moment of leaving the plane.
Airlines' Achievement Hailed.
"When the commercial airlines
Of the United States completed a