Learning Center Our Enshrinees

Harry George Armstrong


Born: February 17, 1899 in De Smet, South Dakota.
Death: February 5, 1983
Enshrined: 1998

In 1934 assigned to the Air Corps Research and Development Division at Wright Field, Ohio.

The Physiological Research Unit was established in 1935 with Armstrong as the director.

With co-worker Dr. Heim, they designed the first centrifuge in America allowing scientists to investigate the physiological effects of G-force on humans.

Solely responsible for developing the medical criteria used for both the XC-35 pressurized military plane and the pressurized strata cruiser developed by TWA for commercial aviation.

Received the Collier Trophy, along with his co-inventor, for developing high-altitude protection equipment.

Named the Command Flight Surgeon of the 8th Air Force in Europe in World War II, Surgeon General of the Air Force in 1949, and Surgeon of the U.S. Air Force in Europe in 1954.

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