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Using “short snorters” to document aero medical milestones in World War II: development, testing and evaluation of oxygen equipment for the USAAF (1149.3)
Author(s) -
Dean Jay
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.1149.3
Subject(s) - aeronautics , aircrew , crew , cabin pressurization , aviation medicine , aviation , limiting , engineering , forensic engineering , operations research , history , aerospace engineering , mechanical engineering
“Short Snorters” are banknotes (often $1 bills) that have been signed by the participants of a significant event, such as a trip, important event or, as in the case of aero medical physiologists in 1942, conquering the 40,000 ft barrier in flight for the first time with the newest pressure breathing (PB) oxygen equipment. During Nov 1942, Dr. (Major) Randy Lovelace (Chief, Wright Field Aero Med Lab, Dayton, OH) and an aircrew from Boeing’s Flight Test Unit flew to 42,900 ft in a B‐17E Flying Fortress using the PB oxygen mask prototype. The 3‐man crew spent a total time at or above 40,000 ft of 1 hr 40 min. They performed favorably using PB: Major Lovelace “…was able to exercise with vigor at all altitudes above 40,000 ft…” while “…the pilots devoted their full efforts without any hesitation to the operation of the controls.” Their original goal of 47,000 ft was abandoned when the B‐17E’s supercharger turbo exploded at 42,900 ft, limiting further ascent, to which “…the emergency was attended to quickly and with alacrity by the pilots.” They concluded that “…the new PB oxygen equipment makes it possible for the first time to extend the current engineering test program of the B‐17 series well up into the 40,000 to 50,000 feet range of altitudes… without awaiting the development and production of pressure cabins.” The short snorter they signed that day is entitled “W.R. Lovelace 40,000 Footer”. Short snorter rules state that if, at a later date, a signee of the $1 bill approaches the holder of the bill and demands to see it, but the holder cannot produce the banknote, then they have to pay the signee $1 or else buy them a “short snort” of liquor. Randy Lovelace’s collection of short snorters is used here as the framework for reviewing the wartime development of demand and PB demand oxygen equipment by physiologists of the Wright Field Aero Med Lab for the USAAF.