U.S. Chemical & Biological Defense Respirators: An Illustrated History is a historical overview of United States military and civilian defense respirator developments spanning the period from the beginnings of CBW respiratory protection in the First World War. Accompanied by photographs, illustrations and other supplemental material, the book may serve as a valuable reference for military historians, NBC defense specialists concerned with the design, development and evolution of military and civil individual protection against war agents, and even collectors of military memorabilia. In view of the fact that no reference work of this type has ever before been prepared, U.S. Chemical and Biological Defense Respirators provides an informational starting point for individuals interested in developing personal understanding about a relatively exotic and important area of modern defensive technology.
About us: 'AEOLUS AEROSPACE' is the functional identity under which are conducted the activities of Christopher T. Carey, historian, researcher, writer, author, and consultant (AKA: 'Doc Boink'). Much of my past work has been in the field of civilian medical technology, specifically in cardiovascular and pulmonary medicine, following service as an aeromedical specialist in the US Air Force during the Vietnam era. After separation from that service I remained active in aerospace physiology, aerospace medicine, aircrew life support (ALSE), and chemical and biological defense technology (NBC/CBW). Past venues of occupational work have included Southwest Asia (i.e. The Middle East), the Republic of China, and Western Europe (Germany & Switzerland). Just prior to the outbreak of Gulf War I in 1991, my activities expanded to include chemical and biological defense technology through affiliation with ASA Incorporated (Applied Science and Analysis, Inc.) as a corresponding associate in respiratory defense. Throughout my life I have maintained a strong interest in mountaineering and climbing and have more recently concerned myself with ancient Hawaiian civilisation. I am a member of the board of directors (emeritus) of the California Aerospace Museum in Sacramento, California, (http://www.aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org/) and serve as their egress, human factors, and ALSE historian. Above all else, I remain a student of life and maintain a continuing concern for the survival of the species, given our inherently destructive tendencies as bioparasites on this beautiful planet so many of us take either for granted, or as purely a source of personal; economic wealth. Since all this sounds very self-aggrandising and like so much pretentious puffed-uppery, let me put this all into perspective by recalling what former Chief of Cardiology at Alameda County's Highland General Hospital (Walter Stullman, MD, ACC) once said about me: "He's my favorite 'high-grade' chimp...". I'll leave you with two of my favorite quotes. The first is by popular 50s cartoonist Walt Kelly's 'Pogo Possum', who observed that "We have met the enemy and he is US...". The second is by genuine rocket scientist Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) who is generally known as one of the fathers of the American space program:
"Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft
...and the only one that can be mass produced
by unskilled labor."
