BETHESDA, Md. (April 11, 2008) World War II-era physiologists helped solve physiological problems related to flight, research that helped pave the way for an Allied victory in the air, according to Jay B. Dean, of the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Dr. Dean prepared a presentation on his historical research for Monday, April 7, at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego. His presentation is entitled “High altitude physiology research and training platforms used by American physiologists during World War II: Innovative altitude chambers and high flying bomber aircraft.”
Dr. Dean is writing a book on the stories behind the advances the Allies made in aviation physiology research during the war. To hear an extended audio interview on this topic with Dr. Dean, go to www.lifelines.tv and click on Episode 8.
Some early highlights of World War II Aviation Research:
Flight Still in Infancy
At the outset of the war, aircraft were neither pressurized nor heated, but air crews flew as high as possible to avoid ground fire and enemy fighters. Flying at 25,000-30,000 feet, roughly the height of Mount Everest, the crews suffered hypoxia from the lack of oxygen and decompression sickness from the low pressure, among other ills. Long range bombing missions could last for up to 8 to 10 hours under these grueling conditions.
Physiologists performed numerous experiments in hypobaric chambers to resolve these problems. These sealed chambers, also called high altitude chambers, mimic the low oxygen and low pressure of high altitudes.
At the beginning of the war in Europe, when physiologists were anxious to get to work and there were only three high altitude chambers in the U.S., they briefly considered using the elevators in the Empire State Building to study rapid changes in pressure. That suggestion never came to fruition, and U.S. scientists were able to build enough high altitude chambers quickly to get the research underway.
Among the problems the physiologists were able to work out using altitude chambers:
Physiological research also helped develop:
NOTE TO EDITORS: The APS annual meeting is part of the Experimental Biology 2008 conference that will be held April 5-9 at the San Diego Convention Center. The press is invited to attend or to make an appointment to interview Dr. Dean. Please contact Christine Guilfoy at (301)634-7253 or at cguilfoy@the-aps.org .
Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease. The American Physiological Society ( www.The-APS.org/press ) has been an integral part of this discovery process since it was established in 1887.