A World War II Flight Surgeon's Story


Book Description

As Nazi German planes darkened the skies of the European Theater during WWII, the United States rallied to the challenge. Brave pilots fought and died under often intense and dangerous conditions, racing to end the war which was creating such devastation and loss of lives. Keeping these men flying were the flight surgeons. The doctors who treated the minds and bodies of the crews. Stress, injury, infectious disease, and difficult living conditions took their tolls, as the flight surgeons fought to keep the army air force in fighting form. Dr. Lamb Myhr was one such flight surgeon. As he served in North Africa, England and the mainland of Europe, Dr. Myhr treated horrific injuries, unfamiliar illnesses, and venereal disease, as well as supervising the health and safety of the entire base. As pilots and crew struggled with fatigue, disease, and devastating losses, Dr. Myhr healed, counseled, and taught them, often with limited resources. He worked long hours in unsafe conditions, making split-second decisions to save lives. His war experiences offer a rare glimpse into the daily life of a flight surgeon on the frontlines through Dr. Myhr's records, correspondence, personal pictures and memories, exploring firsthand the perils and pressures of one of these unsung heroes.







Nathan Zuntz


Book Description

This book focuses on the life and work of Nathan Zuntz (1847-1920), a German physiologist, who made significant contributions to high altitude physiology and aviation medicine. He achieved fame for his invention of the Zuntz-Geppert respiratory apparatus in 1886 and the first treadmill (Laufband) in 1889. He also invented an X-ray apparatus to observe cardiac changes during exercise and constructed a climate chamber to study exercise under varying and sometimes extreme climates. - Focuses on Zuntz's contribution to high altitude physiology and aviation medicine




Principles and Practice of Aviation Medicine


Book Description

With a prologue by Melchor J AntuA ano (Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, USA) The book provides an up-to-date overview of the history of aviation medicine and the development of medical requirements for licensing. Also the physiological foundation for flight, the physiology of the sensory organs, exposure to cosmic radiation, the preventative aspects of aviation medicine, the role of medical factors in accident investigation, and passenger health issues are covered.The bulk of the book is the clinical part which contains several chapters and sub-chapters on clinical aviation medicine with detailed guidance, written by Medical Examiners for Medical Examiners, on how to examine aircrew and how to determine their fitness for flight, especially in cases where the medical requirements are not fully met. Focussing on cardiology, ophthalmology, otology, neurology, psychology and psychiatry, Principles and Practice of Aviation Medicine provides an in-depth discussion of many diseases and medical conditions, frequently encountered in aeromedical practice, with emphasis on how they relate to the demands of contemporary aviation, both with regard to airline pilots and private pilots. Throughout particular consideration is given to how and when flexibility can be applied to the medical certification.In addition, the book includes a chapter on the international medical requirements and other pertinent rules and regulations for medical certification set by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA), as well as the latest revised medical standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)."







Hubertus Strughold


Book Description

Dr. Hubertus Strughold was an early pioneer of aerospace medicine. He was the Director of the Aeromedical Research Institute of the German Air Ministry in Berlin during World War II. After the war, he was brought to the U.S. as a part of "Operation Paperclip" and was instrumental in the early development of space medicine. His contributions were so fundamental that he is called "The Father of Space Medicine" and the Hubertus Strughold Award is given yearly by the Space Medicine Association for individual achievement in space medicine. Following his death, criticism of his possible involvement in World War II atrocities has emerged and most of his honors have been removed. This book is a detailed and well referenced biography of Dr. Strughold. The details concerning the controversy of his activities in World War II are covered comprehensively for the first time. "We knew only a small part, and remained silent. We know more now and this along with the consciousness: if we would have known it, we would have also been silent." Existential philosopher K. Jaspers, Heidelberg 1947