Center of bottom row is Brig. Gen. Theodore C. Lyster, Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, Signal Corps. It is significant to note the ratio of flying hours to fatalities, considering the type of planes in use. During the fiscal year of 1918, 407,999 hours were flown by Army aviators in the United States with 152 fatalities, which was a ratio of 2,684 flying hours for each death.22 Establishment of Medical Research Laboratory Armstrong notes that the physical standards established for pilots by Lyster and his co-workers were “based almost entirely on empirical grounds” and, in the opinion of Lyster, required further study. At the same time the "appalling death rate among flying cadets at the training centers in the United States and among the Allies in France indicated the need for an extensive research program. "23 The British found, after studying fatalities of their aviators for the first year of the war, that 9 percent of such casualties were due to individual deficiencies. A further breakdown showed that 60 percent of the fatalities were chargeable to physical defects. The results of this analysis led the British to provide a service for the "Care of the Flier." Fatalities due to physical defects were reduced from 60 percent to 20 percent for the second year and to 12 percent the third year.24 When, in September 1917, Colonel Lyster was designated the first Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, United States Army, one of his first acts was to recommend that a research board be established "with discretionary powers to investigate all conditions affecting the physical efficiency of pilots, to carry out experiments and tests at different flying schools, to provide suitable apparatus for the supply of oxygen," and finally "to act as a standing organization for instruction in the physiological requirements of aviators." 25 Before it received formal status this board was to meet at least three times-27 September 1917, 2 October 1917, and 12 October 1917. On the second date the group met at Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, Long Island, to inspect flying conditions at the field and to consider the feasibility of locating a laboratory there. It appears that a tentative plan of organization for the proposed medical research laboratory was agreed upon at that time with departments and personnel as follows: Physiology, Maj. Knight Dunlap; Otology, Maj. E. R. Lewis; and Ophthalmology, Maj. W. H. Wilmer. Later the Department of Neurology and Psychology was added with Maj. Stuart Paton as the head. Later plans called for Capt. Conrad Berens, Jr. to succeed Maj. W. H. Wilmer as head of the Department of Ophthalmology, when the latter was appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Laboratory at Mineola."7 26 The board was officially established on 18 October 1917 by War Department Special Order No. 113, which directed Maj. John B. Watson, Major Lewis, Major 262297-55- -3 Wilmer, and Maj. Edward E. Seibert to report to the Chief Surgeon for duty as members of a medical research board.28 Dr. Yandell Henderson, the civilian member of the board, was appointed chairman. 29 During the next few weeks while waiting for the completion of the physical plant at Mineola, the board met at various places in Washington. By 19 January 1918 the original plant of the Research Laboratory was sufficiently near completion to permit certain members of the board to report for duty, and the roster read as follows: 30 Director of the Laboratory. Neuropsychiatry Department Psychology Department Col. W. H. Wilmer. Maj. J. R. Whitney. Maj. Stewart Paton. Capt. Conrad Berens. Lt. Col. Eugene R. Lewis. Under the direction of Colonel Wilmer, the first aviation medical laboratory at Mineola developed an extensive research program. Among the important projects undertaken there was an altitude classification test for pilots by use of rebreather apparatus, an improved model based on earlier ones used by Henderson at Yale. Other methods used were the nitrogen dilution method and the low-pressure chambers which were capable of simulating an altitude of 35,000 feet. Another important study made was the Schneider Cardiovascular Index rating which was used as part of the physical examination for flying. Yet another project was the personality study prepared by psychologists, neurologists and psychiatrists at the laboratory, who had concluded that the mental and nervous state of the candidate was of great importance. 31 In 1921 the research laboratory was destroyed by fire, and there followed a decade when little attention was given to aviation medicine research. This pioneer effort had left its impact, however. In the words of Armstrong: "1 The Air Service Medical Research Laboratory was the first of its kind to be established and its contributions to aviation medicine are incalculable in relation to the saving of lives and equipment. Of equal importance is the fact that this institution was the medium through which aviation medicine in all its ramifications was placed on a sound scientific basis in America. Medical Support of Combat Mission in World War I The appointment of Lt. Col. Theodore C. Lyster as Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, on 6 September 1917,32 was an important landmark in the early history of the Air Force Medical Service. Although Lyster had |