Annual Report of the Surgeon General United States Army Fiscal Year 1958
AVIATION MEDICINE
Aviation Medicine Training
Applicatory training in Army aviation medicine is given in the 4-week Course 1-0-18, Army Aviation Medicine, at the Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Ala. Efforts were continued to expand and improve instruction in Army aviation and aviation medicine given in classes at the Army Medical Service School, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
Twenty-one Army medical officers completed the 9-week primary course in aviation medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph Air Force Base, Tex.
Five Army medical officers were graduated from the 5?-month aviation course at the U.S. Navy School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Fla. Fourteen were in training at the end of the fiscal year.
Army Aviation Medical Officers
The number of Army aviation medical officers on active duty increased from 47 to 52, of whom 11 are career officers and 41 are short-time reservists. The list includes 1 colonel, 4 lieutenant colonels, 7
majors, and 40 captains.
At the end of the fiscal year, 33 of the aviation medical officers were assigned to medical installations, major tactical units, and special aviation activities within CONUS; 8 to U.S. Army, Europe; 6 to U.S. Army Forces, Far East; and 1 each to the U.S. Army in Alaska, Caribbean, and Pacific, and the Southern European Task Force. Senior surgeons and medical unit commanders are apprised of their aviation medicine responsibilities through The Surgeon General's newsletters, bulletins, Department of Army circulars, and staff visits.
Medical Service Corps Aviators
The Surgeon General was authorized for the first time to train a limited number of MSC officers as fixed-wing aviators. In addition to the regular helicopter flight training, courses for the training of aviation staff officers and aircraft maintenance officers were made available at the Army Aviation Center. Medical Service Corps aviators also attended branch courses at the Army Medical Service School. A selected number were schooled at civilian institutions in their various specialties. During the year, 13 MSC officers qualified as helicopter pilots.
At the end of the fiscal year there were 120 MSC Army aviators on active duty, as compared to the established requirement of 139. MSC aviators are rotated to ground duty in order to gain and retain familiarity with MSC activities.
The Medical Air Evacuation Company, TOE 8-29D, which was proposed 2 years ago and has since been under continual review, has not yet been published.
Medical Helicopter Ambulance Detachments
Twelve medical helicopter ambulance detachments were operational during the year, five in Europe, three in the Far East, and one each at
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Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Meade, Md.; and Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
Aircraft
Each of the four medical helicopter ambulance detachments within CONUS are equipped with H-19D Sikorsky helicopters. The only remaining Bell H-13 evacuation aircraft with external litters are assigned to the medical helicopter ambulance detachments located overseas. The Bell H-40 (now designated HU-1) development program continued to be 1 year ahead of the original schedule and production aircraft are expected to be available during fiscal year 1959. This aircraft has exceeded all specified requirements and is considered ideally suited for the forward emergency aeromedical evacuation mission. Efforts to obtain fixed-wing aircraft for the Army Medical Service were still unsuccessful.
