Pilots' Bible

Several months ago, Professor Edward Alexander Bott, who teaches aviation psychology in the University of Toronto, noticed that the New York Academy of Medicine had tucked away on its shelves a little book called Medizinischer Leitfaden fuer fliegende Besatzungen (Medical Guide for Flying Personnel). Written for German pilots by Dr. Heinz von Diringshofen, chief medical officer of the German Air Corps, it was published shortly before the invasion of Poland.

Professor Bott borrowed the book, found it just the ticket. He had it photostated, translated by Major Velyien Ewart Henderson, and last week the University handed out the enemy's helpful manual to members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Its prime points:

Altitude Sickness. Above 15,000 ft., fliers must use oxygen to avoid altitude sickness. Fliers who do not use oxygen, and succumb to altitude sickness, do not realize their plight, for oxygen lack, like alcohol, produces an exaggerated sense of confidence. Like drunkards, they are unable to concentrate. Most fliers who are shot down, continued Dr. von Diringshofen, suffer from oxygen lack.

Centrifugal Force. Greatest physical danger in dive bombing and aerial fighting, said Dr. von Diringshofen, is centrifugal force. "In a bombing attack the bombs are often released in an almost vertical dive at a speed which may be above 310 miles an hour and are released when the aeroplane is only 2,200-1,900 feet above the ground. Immediately the bomber must ascend to avoid the ground." If such a change in direction takes place in about six seconds, the pilot is pressed into his seat with a force more than eight times his weight, and his blood becomes heavier than iron.

Blood leaves the brain and sinks to the stomach. Loss of blood in the brain produces a "grey veil" before the pilot's eyes, later, a brief blackout. Best way to resist centrifugal force is to lie on the back. It might be good physics, continued Dr. von Diringshofen, to install a tilting seat in fighting planes which would enable fliers to lean backwards. But it would be bad psychology. For in "a hot and heavy fight" a man on his back would lose all fighting spirit.

Next best position is a forward crouch. Its advantages: 1) it is instinctively assumed during the strain of fighting; 2) it lowers the head, sends more blood to the brain; 3) it presses in the belly, thus preventing the "pooling of blood"; 4) it has a strong psychological effect which tones up blood pressure and resistance.

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