The Lighter Side of Aviation Medicine during World War 2: Aviation Gremlins

Abstract

Aviation Gremlins are defined as “Mythical elves, upon whom military pilots are said to blame all their troubles and sometimes their good luck.” Reference to the mischievous Gremlin first appears in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1929; however, by World War 2 (1939‐1945), the science of “Gremlinology” was firmly entrenched in RAF lore. By 1941, the first Gremlin sightings were reported at airfields in America and onboard warplanes of the U. S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). One of the most cantankerous, altitudinous Jinxes was the Strato‐Gremlin who menaced the big Boeing B‐17 Flying Fortress and its aircrew. Strato‐Gremlins were rarely encountered below 35,000 feet and were thought to be responsible for all aero medical and mechanical problems airmen encountered in the stratosphere. Case in point. Every time the USAAF’s flying research laboratory, Boeing B‐17E #13 (ser. no. 41‐2407)—a.k.a. The Nemesis of Aeroembolism—passed through 40,000 feet, the Nemesis often developed an oil leak in one of its turbo‐supercharged radial engines, or a case of the “bends” in one of its flight crew. These problems were suspected to be the work of Strato‐Gremlins because shortly after landing at Boeing Field or Wright Field, another Strato‐Gremlin appeared painted on the ship’s starboard bow!Coincidence? The aviation physiologists thought not! To educate aviators of the dangers of the pesky Aviation Gremlins, the USAAF prepared field guides to identify the different members of the Gremlin family. The most dangerous aero medical gremlin, of course, was the beautiful Gremlin Annwho left men gasping for breath the higher they ascended. She “loved great big strong men who don’t need to use their oxygen equipment.” Once reaching the substratosphere, Ann knocks ya (anoxia!) for a loop and then turned loose her four stooges to make airmen suffer more, including Cockeyed Charlie, Stuttering Sam, Blind‐as‐a‐Bat Bill, and Droop the Dope. At altitudes above 25,000 feet, the high‐altitude gal, Bubbles Nitrogen(Fig.1), full of sparkling vivacity and nitrogen, cuddled airmen and gave them bubbles in their blood, after which Rheumatic Rheuben attacked the men's joints with his ax to produce the pains known as “flier’s bends”. Additionally, big, strong Choking Choseph (Fig. 2) hugged airmen full of Bubbles N2 with his huge arms and gave them the “chokes”. The Rebreather Bag Boys were always trying to cut off an aviator’s oxygen supply at altitude due to a detached oxygen hose or by poor care of the pilot’s oxygen equipment. Likewise, Wet Oxygen Willie, froze oxygen regulators and tubing at high altitudes. Perhaps the most obnoxious gremlin was Windy, a most unsocial gremlin who forced airmen to choose a meal of beans, cabbage, and hot dogs before a high‐altitude mission. Then, after reaching 38,000 feet and the gases in their intestines had expand 5‐fold, he’d give them the works! And, of course, on long missions, Joe Flight Gremlin whacked airmen’s muscles and joints with his spiked club making them achy and sore. There also was the Icy Gremlin,the Blackout Gremlin, the Spandules, and so many more…too many to list here. As Dr. Major Randy Lovelace of the Wright Field Aero Medical Lab often mused: “Gremlins are to aviators what children are to your home. They’re brats but you love them… What would man’s ambition be without his children? What would aviation be without its Gremlins?”